This Earth Day, it’s important to remember that our health as we age has a lot to do with the health of our environment from the soil to the sky, according to several experts from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. In particular, research has shown that higher exposure to air pollution is strongly associated with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, especially for people with certain genetic risk factors for the disease, says University Professor Caleb Finch.
“As we work to understand the biology of Alzheimer’s disease and develop interventions for prevention and treatment, efforts to improve air quality will also be critical for reducing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s,” Finch says.