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Lewy body dementia promotion by air pollutants
Xiaodi Zhang, Xiaodi Zhang, Haiqing Liu, Xiao Jun Wu, Longgang Jia, Kundlik Gadhave, Lena Wang, Kevin Zhang et al.. Science, 2025-09-04
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Evidence links air pollution to dementia, yet its role in Lewy body dementia (LBD) remains unclear. In this work, we showed in a cohort of 56.5 million individuals across the United States that fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure raises LBD risk. Mechanistically, we found that PM 2.5 exposure led to brain atrophy in wild-type mice, an effect not seen in α-synuclein (αSyn)–deficient mice. PM 2.5 exposure generated a highly pathogenic αSyn strain, PM 2.5 –induced preformed fibril (PM-PFF), with enhanced proteinase K resistance and neurotoxicity, resembling αSyn LBD strains. PM 2.5 samples from China, the United States, and Europe consistently induced proteinase-resistant αSyn strains and in vivo pathology. Transcriptomic analyses revealed shared responses between PM 2.5 -exposed mice and LBD patients, underscoring PM 2.5 ’s role in LBD and stressing the need for interventions to reduce air pollution and its associated neurological disease burden.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
In a large US cohort, fine particulate matter exposure was linked to higher Lewy body dementia risk, and in mice this exposure caused brain atrophy that did not occur in α-synuclein–deficient mice. The authors stress the need for interventions to reduce air pollution and its associated neurological disease burden.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhang, X., Liu, H., Wu, X. J., Jia, L., Gadhave, K., Wang, L., et al. (2025). Lewy body dementia promotion by air pollutants. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adu4132
Vancouver
Zhang X, Liu H, Wu XJ, Jia L, Gadhave K, Wang L, et al. Lewy body dementia promotion by air pollutants. Science. 2025. doi:10.1126/science.adu4132. PMID: 40906862.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2025-40906862,
author = {Zhang, Xiaodi and Liu, Haiqing and Wu, Xiao Jun and Jia, Longgang and Gadhave, Kundlik and Wang, Lena and Zhang, Kevin and others},
title = {{Lewy body dementia promotion by air pollutants}},
journal = {Science},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1126/science.adu4132},
pmid = {40906862},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adu4132}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Mechanistically, we found that PM 2.5 exposure led to brain atrophy in wild-type mice, an effect not seen in α-synuclein (αSyn)–deficient mice.
- Transcriptomic analyses revealed shared responses between PM 2.5 -exposed mice and LBD patients, underscoring PM 2.5 ’s role in LBD and stressing the need for interventions to reduce air pollution and its associated neurological disease burden.
Why it matters
In a large US cohort, fine particulate matter exposure was linked to higher Lewy body dementia risk, and in mice this exposure caused brain atrophy that did not occur in α-synuclein–deficient mice. The authors stress the need for interventions to reduce air pollution and its associated neurological disease burden.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” 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 | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 39 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 39 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiaobo Mao: h-index 41 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 16 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40906862) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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