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Associations between joint air pollution exposure, mental health, and physical health and dementia incidence in an aging U.S. cohort
Kayan A. Clarke, Zhengyi Deng, Aisha S. Dickerson. The Journals of Gerontology Series B, 2025-12-30
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
We found significant associations between ADRD risk and particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter and nitrogen dioxide in women. Among men, we found a significant association between ADRD risk and ozone (aHR per IQR increment = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.22). The association between ADRD risk and feelings of depression, anxiety, and general health condition was significant in both women and men. Jointly, these factors were associated with more than 2 times greater ADRD incidence among both women (aHR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.13, 3.66) and men (aHR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.27, 5.22). The results suggest a synergistic relationship between air pollution and mental and physical health factors in ADRD risk. Results from this study support the need for establishing stronger measures to reduce air pollution and highlight the benefit of ADRD mitigation through improving mental and physical health.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Clarke, K. A., Deng, Z., & Dickerson, A. S. (2025). Associations between joint air pollution exposure, mental health, and physical health and dementia incidence in an aging U.S. cohort. The Journals of Gerontology Series B. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaf275
Vancouver
Clarke KA, Deng Z, Dickerson AS. Associations between joint air pollution exposure, mental health, and physical health and dementia incidence in an aging U.S. cohort. The Journals of Gerontology Series B. 2025. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbaf275. PMID: 41467748.
BibTeX
@article{clarke2025-41467748,
author = {Clarke, Kayan A. and Deng, Zhengyi and Dickerson, Aisha S.},
title = {{Associations between joint air pollution exposure, mental health, and physical health and dementia incidence in an aging U.S. cohort}},
journal = {The Journals of Gerontology Series B},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbaf275},
pmid = {41467748},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaf275}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- We found significant associations between ADRD risk and particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter and nitrogen dioxide in women.
- Among men, we found a significant association between ADRD risk and ozone (aHR per IQR increment = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.22).
- The association between ADRD risk and feelings of depression, anxiety, and general health condition was significant in both women and men.
- Jointly, these factors were associated with more than 2 times greater ADRD incidence among both women (aHR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.13, 3.66) and men (aHR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.27, 5.22).
- The results suggest a synergistic relationship between air pollution and mental and physical health factors in ADRD risk.
Why it matters
In an aging U.S. cohort, air pollution and mental and physical health factors were each linked to higher dementia risk, and together they were associated with more than double the incidence. The results suggest that reducing air pollution and improving mental and physical health could help mitigate dementia risk.
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Study details
- Effect sizeaHR = 2.03; aHR = 2.57
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journals of Gerontology Series B) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series B: journal h-index 225 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Aisha S. Dickerson: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Stanford University: institution h-index 2,684 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41467748) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
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