The Details
The #1 Threat to Global Health
Climate change and air pollution is the number one threat to global health according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019.
The Consequence of Air Pollution
The Lancet Commission added air pollution to the top modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Traffic pollution has been linked with :
- Neurodevelopmental delay
- Cognitive impairment
- Cognitive decline
- Altered brain anatomy
Air pollution was first linked to brain function at the turn of the 21st Century. Today it is responsible for 6 million deaths per a year.
The key pollutants associated with Alzheimer's disease & Parkinson's disease
- Particulate Matter
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Heat Trapping Gases
Pollution & ALS
Measuring legacy pollutants in the bloodstream, we found:
- The risk of developing ALS in creased by over 7 times, when combining all potential pollutant exposures.
- ALS patients with higher levels of legacy pollutants died more quickly.
There is a correlation between Superfund sites in the state of Michigan and a higher prevalence of ALS.
