Erin R Kulick1, Mitchell S V Elkind2, Amelia K Boehme2, Nina R Joyce3, Nicole Schupf4, Joel D Kaufman5, Richard Mayeux6, Jennifer J Manly7, Gregory A Wellenius3. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: erin_kulick@brown.edu. 2. Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 3. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 5. Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 7. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution is related to accelerated cognitive decline in aging populations. Factors that influence individual susceptibility remain largely unknown, but may involve the apolipoprotein E genotype E4 (APOE-ε4) allele. OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive decline differed by APOE-ε4 status and cognitive risk factors. METHODS: The Washington Heights Inwood Community Aging Project (WHICAP) is a prospective study of aging and dementia. Neuropsychological testing and medical examinations occur every 18-24 months. We used mixed-effects models to evaluate whether the association between markers of ambient air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO2]), fine [PM2.5], and coarse [PM10] particulate matter) and the rate of decline in global and domain-specific cognition differed across strata defined by APOE-ε4 genotypes and cognitive risk factors, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and temporal trends. RESULTS: Among 4821 participants with an average of 6 years follow-up, higher concentrations of ambient air pollution were associated with more rapid cognitive decline. This association was more pronounced among APOE-ε4 carriers (p < 0.001). A one interquartile range increase in NO2 was associated with an additional decline of 0.09 standard deviations (SD) (95%CI -0.1, -0.06) in global cognition across biennial visits among APOE-ε4 positive individuals and a 0.07 SD (95%CI -0.09, -0.05) decline among APOE-ε4 negative individuals. Results for PM2.5, PM10 and cognitive domains were similar. The association between air pollutants and rate of cognitive decline also varied across strata of race-ethnicity with the association strongest among White non-Hispanic participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results add to the body of evidence on the adverse impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive aging and brain health and provide new insights into the genetic and behavioral factors that may impact individual susceptibility.
BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution is related to accelerated cognitive decline in aging populations. Factors that influence individual susceptibility remain largely unknown, but may involve the apolipoprotein E genotype E4 (APOE-ε4) allele. OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive decline differed by APOE-ε4 status and cognitive risk factors. METHODS: The Washington Heights Inwood Community Aging Project (WHICAP) is a prospective study of aging and dementia. Neuropsychological testing and medical examinations occur every 18-24 months. We used mixed-effects models to evaluate whether the association between markers of ambient air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO2]), fine [PM2.5], and coarse [PM10] particulate matter) and the rate of decline in global and domain-specific cognition differed across strata defined by APOE-ε4 genotypes and cognitive risk factors, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and temporal trends. RESULTS: Among 4821 participants with an average of 6 years follow-up, higher concentrations of ambient air pollution were associated with more rapid cognitive decline. This association was more pronounced among APOE-ε4 carriers (p < 0.001). A one interquartile range increase in NO2 was associated with an additional decline of 0.09 standard deviations (SD) (95%CI -0.1, -0.06) in global cognition across biennial visits among APOE-ε4 positive individuals and a 0.07 SD (95%CI -0.09, -0.05) decline among APOE-ε4 negative individuals. Results for PM2.5, PM10 and cognitive domains were similar. The association between air pollutants and rate of cognitive decline also varied across strata of race-ethnicity with the association strongest among White non-Hispanic participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results add to the body of evidence on the adverse impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive aging and brain health and provide new insights into the genetic and behavioral factors that may impact individual susceptibility.
Authors: Tamara Schikowski; Mohammad Vossoughi; Andrea Vierkötter; Thomas Schulte; Tom Teichert; Dorothee Sugiri; Karin Fehsel; Lilian Tzivian; Il-seok Bae; Ulrich Ranft; Barbara Hoffmann; Nicole Probst-Hensch; Christian Herder; Ursula Krämer; Christian Luckhaus Journal: Environ Res Date: 2015-06-16 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: W A Kukull; G D Schellenberg; J D Bowen; W C McCormick; C E Yu; L Teri; J D Thompson; E S O'Meara; E B Larson Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 1996-10 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Francesca Dominici; Roger D Peng; Michelle L Bell; Luu Pham; Aidan McDermott; Scott L Zeger; Jonathan M Samet Journal: JAMA Date: 2006-03-08 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Sara D Adar; Lianne Sheppard; Sverre Vedal; Joseph F Polak; Paul D Sampson; Ana V Diez Roux; Matthew Budoff; David R Jacobs; R Graham Barr; Karol Watson; Joel D Kaufman Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2013-04-23 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Brian S Schwartz; Thomas A Glass; Karen I Bolla; Walter F Stewart; Gregory Glass; Meghan Rasmussen; Joseph Bressler; Weiping Shi; Karen Bandeen-Roche Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Jaime E Hart; Robin C Puett; Kathryn M Rexrode; Christine M Albert; Francine Laden Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2015-11-25 Impact factor: 5.501
Authors: Minos Kritikos; Samuel E Gandy; Jaymie R Meliker; Benjamin J Luft; Sean A P Clouston Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2020 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Kimberly L Parra; Gene E Alexander; David A Raichlen; Yann C Klimentidis; Melissa A Furlong Journal: Environ Res Date: 2022-02-08 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Jennifer A Smith; Wei Zhao; Miao Yu; Kalee E Rumfelt; Priya Moorjani; Andrea Ganna; Aparajit B Dey; Jinkook Lee; Sharon L R Kardia Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2020-08 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Joseph L Saenz; Sara D Adar; Yuan S Zhang; Jenny Wilkens; Aparajita Chattopadhyay; Jinkook Lee; Rebeca Wong Journal: Environ Int Date: 2021-06-26 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Leonardo Iaccarino; Renaud La Joie; Orit H Lesman-Segev; Eunice Lee; Lucy Hanna; Isabel E Allen; Bruce E Hillner; Barry A Siegel; Rachel A Whitmer; Maria C Carrillo; Constantine Gatsonis; Gil D Rabinovici Journal: JAMA Neurol Date: 2021-02-01 Impact factor: 18.302
Authors: Andrew J Petkus; Diana Younan; Xinhui Wang; Daniel P Beavers; Mark A Espeland; Margaret Gatz; Tara L Gruenewald; Joel D Kaufman; Helena C Chui; JoAnn E Manson; Susan M Resnick; Gregory A Wellenius; Eric A Whitsel; Keith Widaman; Jiu-Chiuan Chen Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2020-11-17 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Michelle Connor; Krista Lamorie-Foote; Qinghai Liu; Kristina Shkirkova; Hans Baertsch; Constantinos Sioutas; Todd E Morgan; Caleb E Finch; William J Mack Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-07-02 Impact factor: 3.240