Air pollution and healthy aging: a longitudinal inquire on the association of PM2.5 with intrinsic capacity and its domains

Air pollution constitutes a major challenge in achieving healthy aging. However, the association between PM2.5 and composite indicators of healthy aging (intrinsic capacity, IC) has not yet been explored. This study aimed to estimate the longitudinal association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and IC and its domains in a sample of Mexican older people. We used data from 4 waves of the Study on Global Aging and Adult Health in Mexico (2009, 2014, 2017, and 2021). The annual PM2.5 concentration was calculated using satellite data. Longitudinal fixed-effects models were used to estimate the proposed associations. Higher levels of PM2.5 were significantly associated with a decline in IC and the sensory and locomotor domains. While higher PM2.5 values were significantly associated with lower values in the cognitive, vitality, and psychological domains; however, the scores in these domains did not decrease over time. Given that the global population is aging at an accelerated rate and urbanization continues to increase, addressing PM2.5 pollution is crucial for protecting the physical and mental well-being of older people.