New Study Reveals Link Between Air Pollution and Cognitive Decline in Indian Adults

A groundbreaking study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has revealed a significant link between long-term air pollution exposure and cognitive decline in Indian adults. The research, published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, followed 15,000 participants across Delhi-NCR for five years.

Key Findings

The study found that adults exposed to PM2.5 levels above the safe limit for more than three years showed a 40% faster decline in cognitive function compared to those living in cleaner air regions. Memory, attention span, and processing speed were the most affected areas.

"The impact we observed was comparable to aging an additional 5-7 years," said Dr. Arvind Kumar, lead researcher and professor of pulmonology at AIIMS. "This is extremely concerning given that Delhi's air quality remains dangerously poor for most of the year."

Recommendations

The researchers have called for urgent government intervention and have recommended that individuals limit outdoor activities during high pollution days and use air purifiers indoors. They also emphasized the need for long-term policy changes to address the root causes of air pollution.