You ever wonder if all the particles teeming in the air you breathe are doing anything to your brain? Scientists sure have and — a self-conscious gasp — they have bad news.
A series of recent studies highlighted in the Washington Post suggest that all kinds of microscopic debris is bypassing our blood-brain barrier and infiltrating our precious gray matter. And we can only begin to fathom the role this might play in driving neurocognitive conditions ranging from autism to dementia.
While it’s unclear exactly how these particles are reaching the brain, according to Caleb Finch, a USC professor renowned for his work on Alzheimer’s and aging, a burgeoning body of evidence suggests that it begins as early as pregnancy.
“There’s a lot we don’t understand yet, but we do know that the risk of dementia increases in proportion to the amount of air pollution,” Finch told WaPo.
