New Study Links Traffic Pollution to More Signs of Alzheimer’s in Brain.

Recent research reveals that increased exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to a higher likelihood of amyloid plaques in the brain, associated with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting environmental factors could contribute to Alzheimer’s in genetically unaffected individuals.

According to a study recently published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, individuals exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution were found to have increased levels of amyloid plaques in their brains, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, observed post-mortem. The research focused on fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which is made up of airborne particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter.