Air Pollution and Low Vitamin D May Increase Dementia Risk

Sharon Moore November 03, 2016

Researchers from University’s Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre have reviewed a dozen of studies which examined the environmental factors that influence the risk of dementia.

They found that a lack of vitamin D and exposure to air pollution were among those happen to increase dementia risk. They also found that excessive minerals present in drinking water may also be linked to the disease, but note that the evidence was mixed.

Dementia is a global public health concern which affects 47.5 million people worldwide. And there are about 7.7 million new cases every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dementia refers to a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. It symptoms may include memory loss, problems thinking and reasoning, and feelings of anxiety and depression.

The researchers of the review said future studies should focus on the shortlist of environmental risk factors flagged up in their study.

"Our ultimate goal is to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Environmental risk factors are an important new area to consider here, particularly since we might be able to do something about them.” said Dr Tom Russ, of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh.

"We found that the evidence is particularly strong for air pollution and vitamin D deficiency. But we really need more research to find out whether these factors are actually causing dementia and how, and if so, what we can do to prevent this."

"We welcome the findings of this important area of research from our colleagues at the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh. The research study substantially improves our knowledge and understanding of environmental factors which may increase the risk of developing dementia and provides a basis for further, and more focussed, research in this area.

There’s still much more that needs to be done in the battle against dementia. But identifying the everyday factors that raise the risk of the disease is one giant step for the scientific community.

The review was published in the journal BMC Geriatrics.

Source of this article:

Lewis O. J. Killin et al, Environmental risk factors for dementia: a systematic review

Featured Practitioner: http://www.naturaltherapyforall.com/new/detail.php?id=1118

Other Practitioners: Aromatherapy Camden