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Long-Term Exposure to PM 2.5 Constituents, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study among 0.2 Million Older Adults
Lei Zheng, Binbin Su, Feipeng Cui, Dankang Li, Yudiyang Ma, Meiqi Xing, Linxi Tang, Jianing Wang et al.. Environmental Science & Technology, 2025-02-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Fine particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, is recognized as a risk factor for dementia. However, the specific linkage between PM 2.5 constituents and dementia is not well understood. We conducted a cohort of 217,336 participants of the UK Biobank to explore the association of long-term exposure to PM 2.5 constituents with all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia. We estimated PM 2.5 constituents based on residential addresses by an evaluation model and used time-varying Cox models and Quantile g-computation models to assess the effects of individual constituents and their mixtures. Genetic susceptibility to dementia was assessed using a polygenic risk score, and its multiplicative and additive interactions with PM 2.5 constituents were analyzed. Our results showed that black carbon (BC), ammonium (NH 4 + ), organic matter (OM), and sulfate (SO 4 2– ) were positively associated with all-cause dementia, while BC and OM were linked to AD, with BC being the most influential. The combined effect of PM 2.5 constituents and genetic risk was stronger than their individual effect. This study offers new insights into the association between PM 2.5 constituents and dementia, especially those from fuel combustion and automobile exhaust, and highlights the need for effective prevention strategies.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
The record lists 217,336 participants. In a cohort of 217,336 UK Biobank participants, long-term exposure to certain PM2.5 constituents, especially black carbon, was positively associated with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and combined with genetic risk the effect was stronger. This supports air pollution as a risk factor and points to prevention strategies, but it does not test a treatment.
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
Zheng, L., Su, B., Cui, F., Li, D., Ma, Y., Xing, M., et al. (2025). Long-Term Exposure to PM 2.5 Constituents, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study among 0.2 Million Older Adults. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c08188
Vancouver
Zheng L, Su B, Cui F, Li D, Ma Y, Xing M, et al. Long-Term Exposure to PM 2.5 Constituents, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study among 0.2 Million Older Adults. Environmental Science & Technology. 2025. doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c08188. PMID: 39998422.
BibTeX
@article{zheng2025-39998422,
author = {Zheng, Lei and Su, Binbin and Cui, Feipeng and Li, Dankang and Ma, Yudiyang and Xing, Meiqi and Tang, Linxi and Wang, Jianing and others},
title = {{Long-Term Exposure to PM 2.5 Constituents, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study among 0.2 Million Older Adults}},
journal = {Environmental Science \& Technology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.4c08188},
pmid = {39998422},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c08188}
}
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Key findings
- Our results showed that black carbon (BC), ammonium (NH 4 + ), organic matter (OM), and sulfate (SO 4 2– ) were positively associated with all-cause dementia, while BC and OM were linked to AD, with BC being the most influential.
Why it matters
In a cohort of 217,336 UK Biobank participants, long-term exposure to certain PM2.5 constituents, especially black carbon, was positively associated with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and combined with genetic risk the effect was stronger. This supports air pollution as a risk factor and points to prevention strategies, but it does not test a treatment.
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Study details
- Participants217,336
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Environmental Science & Technology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Environmental Science & Technology: journal h-index 592 (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 | 4 / 4 | 217,336 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 19 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× 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 | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiaoying Zheng: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College: institution h-index 950 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39998422) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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