Gali Cohen1, Yariv Gerber2. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel. yarivg@post.tau.ac.il.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Worldwide demographic changes occurring in a relatively short period have led to a growing interest in the determinants of aging "successfully" and how to promote a healthier old age. As environmental exposures such as ambient air pollution are believed to play a role in the process of aging, they might represent one of the pathways turning potential successful agers to unsuccessful agers. We aimed to critically review the current epidemiological evidence of the associations between chronic exposure to ambient air pollution and several key determinants of unsuccessful aging and to identify specific populations of unsuccessful agers that are potentially more vulnerable to air pollution's health effects. RECENT FINDINGS: Epidemiologic evidence supports the association between air pollution and increased risk for several major chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, frailty, and decreased longevity-all important determinants of unsuccessful aging-as well as evidence for higher vulnerability among frail populations. However, several methodological shortcomings, including possible publication bias, lack of use of an adequate indicator of unsuccessful aging, limitations in exposure assessment, and residual confounding particularly due to socioeconomic status, hinder inference of causal relationship at this stage. Future studies should use constructs such as frailty index to estimate successful aging, as well as integrate time activity patterns into the exposure assessment metric. Additionally, studies in low- and middle-income countries are needed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Worldwide demographic changes occurring in a relatively short period have led to a growing interest in the determinants of aging "successfully" and how to promote a healthier old age. As environmental exposures such as ambient air pollution are believed to play a role in the process of aging, they might represent one of the pathways turning potential successful agers to unsuccessful agers. We aimed to critically review the current epidemiological evidence of the associations between chronic exposure to ambient air pollution and several key determinants of unsuccessful aging and to identify specific populations of unsuccessful agers that are potentially more vulnerable to air pollution's health effects. RECENT FINDINGS: Epidemiologic evidence supports the association between air pollution and increased risk for several major chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, frailty, and decreased longevity-all important determinants of unsuccessful aging-as well as evidence for higher vulnerability among frail populations. However, several methodological shortcomings, including possible publication bias, lack of use of an adequate indicator of unsuccessful aging, limitations in exposure assessment, and residual confounding particularly due to socioeconomic status, hinder inference of causal relationship at this stage. Future studies should use constructs such as frailty index to estimate successful aging, as well as integrate time activity patterns into the exposure assessment metric. Additionally, studies in low- and middle-income countries are needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chronic exposure to air pollution; Frailty; Successful aging; Susceptible populations
Authors: Audrey de Nazelle; Edmund Seto; David Donaire-Gonzalez; Michelle Mendez; Jaume Matamala; Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen; Michael Jerrett Journal: Environ Pollut Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 8.071
Authors: Emmanuel S Baja; Joel D Schwartz; Gregory A Wellenius; Brent A Coull; Antonella Zanobetti; Pantel S Vokonas; Helen H Suh Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2010-03-01 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: C Arden Pope; Richard T Burnett; George D Thurston; Michael J Thun; Eugenia E Calle; Daniel Krewski; John J Godleski Journal: Circulation Date: 2003-12-15 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Theodore D Cosco; A Matthew Prina; Jaime Perales; Blossom C M Stephan; Carol Brayne Journal: Int Psychogeriatr Date: 2013-12-05 Impact factor: 3.878
Authors: Cheng Chen; Eric A Whitsel; Mark A Espeland; Linda Snetselaar; Kathleen M Hayden; Archana P Lamichhane; Marc L Serre; William Vizuete; Joel D Kaufman; Xinhui Wang; Helena C Chui; Mary E D'Alton; Jiu-Chiuan Chen; Ka Kahe Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 16.655
Authors: Cheng Chen; Kathleen M Hayden; Joel D Kaufman; Mark A Espeland; Eric A Whitsel; Marc L Serre; William Vizuete; Tonya S Orchard; Xinhui Wang; Helena C Chui; Mary E D'Alton; Jiu-Chiuan Chen; Ka Kahe Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2021-12-23 Impact factor: 9.031