3 ms·

Is there any known mechanism through which air quality affects cognitive performance? The article does not suggest or refer to any research on the subject.

toomuchtodo 7y ago
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/27/642321572/scientists-link-air-pollution-exposure-to-cognitive-decline https://www.npr.org/2018/08/27/642321572/scientists-link-air...
- montecarl 7y ago
  The referenced article there explicitly does not give a mechanism: Changes in the brain chemistry or composition are likely more plausible channels between air pollution and cognition. It is beyond the scope of this paper to test the exact mechanism, so we leave it as agenda for future research.
- voxic11 7y ago
  Article says > It's not clear precisely how pollution impacts cognitive decline, though Chen suggests that pollution may have a negative effect on the brain's white matter, which could vary between men and women. As NPR has reported, "the brain's white matter coordinates communication among brain regions." > James Hendrix, the director of Global Science Initiatives at the Alzheimer's Association, was skeptical of the claim that pollution impacts white matter. "I think that's speculation. I think we don't have a direct cause and effect that can be proven," he said.
  - pbhjpbhj 7y ago
    Re the second quote, what about lead levels (in air or water pollution), I thought they'd been linked pretty effectively with cognition issues.
    - voxic11 7y ago
      But there are many different ways cognition can be effected, white matter isn't the only brain matter. Also this study wasn't specifically about lead.
MS90 7y ago
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138768/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138768/ https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9193 https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9193 https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/smog https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/smog
- voxic11 7y ago
  Your first link says the mechanism is unknown right in the beginning. Third link doesn't mention mechanisms at all. Only the second link attempts some guesses. But it still concludes that "It is beyond the scope of this paper to test the exact mechanism, so we leave it as agenda for future research."
  - tlb 7y ago
    Typically, knowing the mechanism comes long after solid evidence of the effect. The mechanisms by which cigarettes cause lung cancer are surprisingly complex and weren't fully understood for a long time, but it's obvious that some kind of mechanism is plausible. So usually the bar for taking something seriously is: statistical evidence of a significant harmful effect, and at least one plausible hypothesis for a mechanism. But you don't have to be sure of the mechanism.
- montecarl 7y ago
  The apa article seems to have the best info. This is from a study of genetically identical mice: To find out more about the underlying cause of those behavioral changes, Nelson compared the brains of mice that had been exposed to dirty air with brains of mice that hadn't. He found a number of striking differences. For starters, mice exposed to particulate matter had increased levels of cytokines in the brain. (Cytokines are cell-signaling molecules that regulate the body's inflammatory response.) That wasn't entirely surprising, since previous studies investigating the cardiovascular effects of air pollution on mice had found widespread bodily inflammation in mice exposed to the pollution. More surprisingly, Nelson also discovered physical changes to the nerve cells in the mouse hippocampus, a region known to play a role in spatial memory. Exposed mice had fewer spines on the tips of the neurons in this brain region. "Those [spines] form the connections to other cells," Nelson says. "So you have less dendritic complexity, and that's usually correlated with a poorer memory." The changes are alarming and surprising, he says. "I never thought we'd actually see changes in brain structure."
AngryData 7y ago
Increased CO2 levels in the air will reduce mental performance. I mean it isn't a ton unless you are seriously sealed up, and I don't know about particulates and other pollution. But a poorly ventilated room can have CO2 level rise double that of a well ventilated room and has been measured both in actual rooms and building CO2 levels and with subjects being tested for mental performance under experimental conditions with controlled CO2 levels.
xylia 7y ago
This book has some good info: Norwegian Secrets for Bringing Natural Air and Light into Your Home and Office to Dramatically Improve Health and Happiness https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062896223/skogluft/ https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062896223/skogluft/

toomuchtodo 7y ago

https://www.npr.org/2018/08/27/642321572/scientists-link-air-pollution-exposure-to-cognitive-decline https://www.npr.org/2018/08/27/642321572/scientists-link-air...

montecarl 7y ago
The referenced article there explicitly does not give a mechanism: Changes in the brain chemistry or composition are likely more plausible channels between air pollution and cognition. It is beyond the scope of this paper to test the exact mechanism, so we leave it as agenda for future research.
voxic11 7y ago
Article says > It's not clear precisely how pollution impacts cognitive decline, though Chen suggests that pollution may have a negative effect on the brain's white matter, which could vary between men and women. As NPR has reported, "the brain's white matter coordinates communication among brain regions." > James Hendrix, the director of Global Science Initiatives at the Alzheimer's Association, was skeptical of the claim that pollution impacts white matter. "I think that's speculation. I think we don't have a direct cause and effect that can be proven," he said.
- pbhjpbhj 7y ago
  Re the second quote, what about lead levels (in air or water pollution), I thought they'd been linked pretty effectively with cognition issues.
  - voxic11 7y ago
    But there are many different ways cognition can be effected, white matter isn't the only brain matter. Also this study wasn't specifically about lead.

MS90 7y ago

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138768/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138768/ https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9193 https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9193 https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/smog https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/smog

voxic11 7y ago
Your first link says the mechanism is unknown right in the beginning. Third link doesn't mention mechanisms at all. Only the second link attempts some guesses. But it still concludes that "It is beyond the scope of this paper to test the exact mechanism, so we leave it as agenda for future research."
- tlb 7y ago
  Typically, knowing the mechanism comes long after solid evidence of the effect. The mechanisms by which cigarettes cause lung cancer are surprisingly complex and weren't fully understood for a long time, but it's obvious that some kind of mechanism is plausible. So usually the bar for taking something seriously is: statistical evidence of a significant harmful effect, and at least one plausible hypothesis for a mechanism. But you don't have to be sure of the mechanism.
montecarl 7y ago
The apa article seems to have the best info. This is from a study of genetically identical mice: To find out more about the underlying cause of those behavioral changes, Nelson compared the brains of mice that had been exposed to dirty air with brains of mice that hadn't. He found a number of striking differences. For starters, mice exposed to particulate matter had increased levels of cytokines in the brain. (Cytokines are cell-signaling molecules that regulate the body's inflammatory response.) That wasn't entirely surprising, since previous studies investigating the cardiovascular effects of air pollution on mice had found widespread bodily inflammation in mice exposed to the pollution. More surprisingly, Nelson also discovered physical changes to the nerve cells in the mouse hippocampus, a region known to play a role in spatial memory. Exposed mice had fewer spines on the tips of the neurons in this brain region. "Those [spines] form the connections to other cells," Nelson says. "So you have less dendritic complexity, and that's usually correlated with a poorer memory." The changes are alarming and surprising, he says. "I never thought we'd actually see changes in brain structure."

AngryData 7y ago

Increased CO2 levels in the air will reduce mental performance. I mean it isn't a ton unless you are seriously sealed up, and I don't know about particulates and other pollution. But a poorly ventilated room can have CO2 level rise double that of a well ventilated room and has been measured both in actual rooms and building CO2 levels and with subjects being tested for mental performance under experimental conditions with controlled CO2 levels.

xylia 7y ago

This book has some good info: Norwegian Secrets for Bringing Natural Air and Light into Your Home and Office to Dramatically Improve Health and Happiness https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062896223/skogluft/ https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062896223/skogluft/