Air Pollution Exposure and Cognitive Function in Taiwanese Older Adults: A Repeated Measurement Study

Yuan-Ting C. Lo, Ya-Chi Lu, Yu-Hung Chang, Senyeong Kao and Han-Bin Huang
Additional contact information
Yuan-Ting C. Lo: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No.161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 11490, Taiwan
Ya-Chi Lu: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No.161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 11490, Taiwan
Yu-Hung Chang: Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, No.91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Senyeong Kao: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No.161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 11490, Taiwan
Han-Bin Huang: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No.161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 11490, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Studies related to air pollution exposure and neurocognitive disorders, specifically cognitive impairment, among older adults are limited. We investigated the association between short-term and long-term exposure to ambient air pollution (i.e., particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm and ozone) and the effects of their interaction on cognitive function in a community-dwelling, free-living elderly population. Study participants were in a multiple-wave representative sample, namely the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 2241). In four surveys between 1996 and 2007, their cognitive function was assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). We estimated air pollution from 1993 to 2007, including daily concentrations of PM 10 and O 3 from air quality monitoring stations, based on the administrative zone of each participant’s residence. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine these associations after adjusting for covariates. We found that long-term exposure to PM 10 and O 3 was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 1.094, 95% CI: 1.020, 1.174 for PM 10 ; OR = 1.878, 95% CI: 1.363, 2.560 for O 3 ). The joint effect of exposure to PM 10 and O 3 was associated with cognitive impairment ( p < 0.001). Co-exposure to ambient PM 10 and O 3 may deteriorate cognitive function in older adults.

Keywords: air pollution; older adults; cognitive function; neurocognitive disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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