It may be that the pandemic and it’s commensurate strictures, specifically the need to wear facemasks for prolonged periods, has brought us at least the benefit of extra data. Scientists have undoubtedly been monitoring mask usage and it’s potential side effects over weeks and months. One rather alarming revelation has emerged that brings concern. This is the potential effect of not wearing a face-shielding and air-filtering device in highly polluted areas. Researchers have discovered that the much maligned, albeit useful, mask may have uses beyond preventing Covid-19 and other deadly pathogens from causing infection. Data shows that areas that have higher amounts of air pollutants create a greater risk for residents developing cognition issues at some point of their life. Nor does the area have to be industry heavy. Merely living near a shopping mall as opposed to rural locale can up a resident’s potential for developing dementia later in life. While it’s been known for some time that polluted air particles can promote long-term damage to the heart and lungs, these findings are more recent and focus on dementia specifically. The data was culled and examined from studies done twenty and thirty years ago. It was the researcher’s assessment after careful study that a mere microgram per cubic meter of difference for air pollutants between resident as enough to significantly increase said resident’s capacity to incur brain deficits later in life. Because many brain issues only come to complete fruition over time, this data was not available before. With access to data that shows changes over decades, scientists can now view this alarming trend. In doing so, they also indicate the potential efficacy of using masks in areas of high pollution.
Key Takeaways:
- It has already been proven that living in areas with air pollution has negative consequences on the heart and respiratory areas of the human body.
- It has now been proven that people living in areas with just a single microgram per cubic meter in addition to a similarily polluted area gives a person 16% higher risk of developing a brain disease.
- The studies conducted were analyzed by studying people who developed dementia living in polluted areas examining pollution levels over the course of years prior to the diagnosis.
“Previous studies have shown long term exposure to air pollution can be hazardous to health leading to conditions that affect the lungs and heart.”
Read more: https://www.studyfinds.org/wear-face-masks-prevent-dementia-air-pollution/
