Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine] · Apr 3, 2025

The effect of short-term exposures to atmospheric fine particulate matter and its components on cognitive function in middle-aged and older people aged 40-89

By Ling HT, Wang Y, Chen C et al.

Objective: To assess the effect of short-term exposures to atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its components on cognitive function in middle-aged and older people aged 40-89 and identify key components that affect cognitive function. Methods: From October 2018 to March 2019, a cross-sectional survey of middle-aged and older people aged 40-89 was conducted across 10 cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and neighboring regions of China. Data on PM2.5 and its components were collected from the nearest air supermonitoring stations to the residential addresses. The cognitive function was assessed using the Min-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the effect of short-term exposures to PM2.5 and its components on cognitive function in middle-aged and older people. The restricted cubic spline function was used to fit the exposure-response relationship between different components and changes in MMSE scores. Results: The age of the 1 978 respondents was (65.1±13.4) years, and 976 (49.34%) were males. During the study period, the daily mean concentration of PM2.5 was (71.2±43.2) μg/m³, and the MMSE score was (28.2±3.7). The results of the multiple linear regression model showed that short-term exposures to PM2.5 and its components were associated with cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people after adjusting for confounding factors, and the effect was higher at lag 0-28 days. For an interquartile range (64.3 μg/m³) increase in PM2.5 at lag 0-28 d, the MMSE score decreased by 5.91 (95%CI: 0.04, 11.77). For an interquartile range increase in organic carbon (OC), antimony (Sb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd), the MMSE scores of middle-aged and older people decreased by 5.71 (95%CI: 1.69, 9.73), 4.67 (95%CI: 2.50, 6.84), 4.49 (95%CI: 1.05, 7.92), 3.65 (95%CI: 0.89, 6.42), 2.76 (95%CI: 1.22, 4.30), and 1.72 (95%CI: 0.53, 2.92). Conclusions: Short-term exposures to atmospheric PM2.5 and its components (OC, Sb, Cr, Zn, Sn, and Cd) are associated with cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people.

doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20241028-00853PubMed 40176662Populations