Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution on Brain Cortical Thinning Among Elderly Individuals Without Neurological Diseases

Reduced cortical thickness in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment

“…13 Studies have recently suggested that severe and/or chronic exposure to inhaled fine particulate matter (PM < 2.5 μm) may also lead to neurodegeneration. 6 Exposure to fine particulate matter has been linked to similar processes as those discussed in PTSD including systemic inflammation, 45 changes to glutamatergic functioning, 46 increased amyloid accumulation 47 and deposition, 48 with the end result being cognitive decline 49 and increased risk of dementia. 50 In our analyses, we found that compared to normative data even unimpaired responders had reduced CTX in the entorhinal and temporal cortices, previously shown to be vulnerable to exposure to inhaled neurotoxins, 6 to be sensitive to air pollution may, therefore, be critical in future analyses.…”

“…interpreted as an early marker of the spread of tauopathy in ADRD, 63 which is often associated with greater neurodegeneration. 64 Because the temporal lobe has been implicated recently in exposure-based neurodegenerative diseases, 6 the potential for proliferation of tauopathy in CU WTC responders is concerning. Future research should examine the extent to which these results are supported by neuropathology using molecular neuroimaging techniques.…”

“…3,4 Studies have also increasingly suggested that severe and/or chronic exposure to inhaled fine particulate matter (PM < 2.5μm) as was experienced on-site at the WTC disaster, 5 may also cause neurodegeneration in the temporal lobe. 6 To date, no studies have used neuroimaging in CI in WTC responders. Yet, risk of CI in WTC responders is more common than in the general population and is associated with risk factors for ADRD including aging, apolipoprotein-ε4 allele possession, and is also associated with WTC exposures and PTSD.…”

Reduced cortical thickness in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment

“…Reduced CTX and volume of the entorhinal cortex is commonly interpreted as an early marker of the spread of tauopathy in ADRD, 63 which is often associated with greater neurodegeneration 64 . Because the temporal lobe has been implicated recently in exposure‐based neurodegenerative diseases, 6 the potential for proliferation of tauopathy in CU WTC responders is concerning. Future research should examine the extent to which these results are supported by neuropathology using molecular neuroimaging techniques.…”

“…Earlier reports indicate that post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans of the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars was associated with cortical atrophy 3,4 . Studies have also increasingly suggested that severe and/or chronic exposure to inhaled fine particulate matter (PM < 2.5μm) as was experienced on‐site at the WTC disaster, 5 may also cause neurodegeneration in the temporal lobe 6 . To date, no studies have used neuroimaging in CI in WTC responders.…”