Link found between air pollution and brain shrinkage in women

A research group based at the University of Southern California (CA, USA) has identified a link between high levels of air pollution and brain shrinkage in elderly women. The regions of shrinkage were found to be associated with increased risk of dementia. The authors of the study, published in Neurology®, suggest that the level of air pollution considered safe by the US Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA) may need to be reviewed. The research group recruited 712 women with an average age of 78 who did not have dementia. The women also provided medical histories and details on race/ethnicity, education, employment,...