Air Pollution Can Cause Cognitive Impairment in Brains of Seniors

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences determined that poor air quality causes cognitive impairment in older adults, reports Tech Times . An international team of researchers surveyed about 50,000 people who took standardized tests in 2010 and later in 2014. They noted pollution can impact a person's cognition in both verbal and math tests, with the damage more profound in older men and in men who had no education beyond primary school. The study also warned cognitive decline or impairment is one of the risk factors of dementia in seniors, while the side effects of poor air quality might affect older adults' ability to make the right decisions, especially in a host of complex tasks such as retirement planning.