Dementia Matters

Study Finds Air Pollution a Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease

Listen Later

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that among older adults with cognitive impairment, the greater the air pollution in their neighborhood, the higher the likelihood of the presence of amyloid plaques in their brain. Lead researcher Leonardo Iaccarino, PhD, details his work examining air pollution and brain health outcomes and discusses possible ways individuals and society can lower the impact of air pollution on Alzheimer’s disease risk. 

Guest: Leonardo Iaccarino, PhD, University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center

Episode Topics
  • What sparked your interest in neuroscience and Alzheimer's disease research? 1:06
  • Why is your research so pivotal? 2:21
  • What was the IDEAS Study? 4:12
  • What kinds of air pollution are you referring to? 6:09
  • What can generate PM2.5? 7:45
  • Are cars or factories potential sources? 8:50
  • How does air pollution increase risk for Alzheimer's disease? 9:15
  • Is there a further increased risk after long exposure? 11:00
  • Why is it important that there was no link to ground-level ozone? 12:04
  • Did you look into the APOE4 genetic risk from air pollution? 14:32
  • What should people do with this information? 16:19
  • Is there a way to find your own neighborhood value of PM2.5? 18:44
  • Do you see any policy or system changes in the future from your findings? 19:55
  • Do you believe there might be other environmental factors that increase risk? 21:03
  • What do you do in your life to decrease risk for neurodegeneration? 21:57

    • Find Dementia Matters online

    Follow us on Facebook

    Follow us on Twitter

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Dementia MattersBy Wisconsin Alzheimer‘s Disease Research Center
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    134 ratings

    More shows like Dementia Matters

    View all
    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,754 Listeners

    NPR News Now by NPR

    NPR News Now

    14,548 Listeners

    Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

    Good Life Project

    3,386 Listeners

    This Week in Virology by Vincent Racaniello

    This Week in Virology

    2,059 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,163 Listeners

    HerMoney with Jean Chatzky by Jean Chatzky Her Money

    HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

    1,474 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,443 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,769 Listeners

    The Pulse by WHYY

    The Pulse

    342 Listeners

    MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN by Margaret Roach

    MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN

    688 Listeners

    GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast by Alex Smith, Eric Widera

    GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast

    306 Listeners

    Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine by Pri-Med

    Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine

    264 Listeners

    Tradeoffs by Tradeoffs

    Tradeoffs

    389 Listeners

    Chasing Life by CNN Podcasts

    Chasing Life

    8,202 Listeners

    Consider This from NPR by NPR

    Consider This from NPR

    6,460 Listeners