Childhood Air Pollution Exposure May Impact Brain Function: Research
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Synopsis
A study indicates that children exposed to high air pollution levels in early childhood may have impaired brain connectivity, affecting their cognitive and control abilities. Conducted by ISGlobal, the findings reveal significant correlations with brain development disruptions.
Key Takeaways
- Early air pollution exposure may weaken brain connections.
- Study shows impacts on cognitive functions and emotional processing.
- Research analyzed over 3,600 children.
- Significant findings published in Environment International.
- Need for further research to clarify long-term effects.
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) A recent study reveals that children who are subjected to elevated levels of air pollution during their early and middle childhood years may experience diminished connections between crucial brain regions, significantly affecting their thinking and control capabilities. The research, published in Environment International, sheds light on the potential ramifications of early air pollution exposure on cerebral development.
Conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) in Spain, the study found a decrease in functional connectivity within and between specific cortical and subcortical brain networks among children exposed to heightened air pollution levels.
These networks consist of interconnected brain structures that collaborate to execute various cognitive functions, including thinking, perception, and movement control, as stated by the research team.
Monica Guxens, an ICREA researcher at ISGlobal, noted, "These associations continue into adolescence, suggesting lasting disruptions in normal brain network development due to pollution exposure, potentially affecting emotional processing and cognitive functions."
The investigation analyzed data from 3,626 children whose residences were subjected to air pollution, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX).
Findings indicate that increased exposure to air pollution from birth to age three correlates with diminished connectivity between the amygdala and the cortical networks associated with attention, somatomotor function—which coordinates body movements—and auditory function.
Moreover, heightened exposure to PM10 particles in the year preceding the neuroimaging assessment was linked to reduced functional connectivity between the salience and medial-parietal networks, which are essential for identifying environmental stimuli and for introspection and self-awareness.
Guxens concluded, "Further research is necessary to validate these results and to comprehend their precise influence on brain development."
