Potential Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution on Dementia: A Longitudinal Analysis in American Indians Aged 55 Years and Older

Yachen Zhu, Yuxi Shi, Scott M. Bartell, Maria M. Corrada, Spero M. Manson, Joan O’Connell and Luohua Jiang ()
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Yachen Zhu: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Yuxi Shi: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Scott M. Bartell: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Maria M. Corrada: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Spero M. Manson: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Joan O’Connell: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Luohua Jiang: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: American Indians are disproportionately affected by air pollution, an important risk factor for dementia. However, few studies have investigated the effects of air pollution on the risk of dementia among American Indians. (2) Methods: This retrospective cohort study included a total of 26,871 American Indians who were 55+ years old in 2007, with an average follow-up of 3.67 years. County-level average air pollution data were downloaded from land-use regression models. All-cause dementia was identified using ICD-9 diagnostic codes from the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) National Data Warehouse and related administrative databases. Cox models were employed to examine the association of air pollution with dementia incidence, adjusting for co-exposures and potential confounders. (3) Results: The average PM 2.5 levels in the IHS counties were lower than those in all US counties, while the mean O 3 levels in the IHS counties were higher than the US counties. Multivariable Cox regressions revealed a positive association between dementia and county-level O 3 with a hazard ratio of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.02–1.50) per 1 ppb standardized O 3 . PM 2.5 and NO 2 were not associated with dementia risk after adjusting for all covariates. (4) Conclusions: O 3 is associated with a higher risk of dementia among American Indians.

Keywords: PM 2.5; O 3; NO 2; Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD); native Americans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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