Air Pollution: A Modern Unavoidable Risk Factor of Dementia

Dementia, a devastating neurodegenerative condition that affects millions worldwide, is influenced not only by genetic predisposition and aging but also by environmental exposures. Among these, air pollution has emerged as a modern, unavoidable risk factor. Fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other airborne pollutants penetrate deeply into the respiratory system and, through systemic circulation, reach the brain, where they provoke inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular damage. Growing epidemiological evidence links chronic exposure to polluted air with accelerated cognitive decline, higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, and increased dementia-related mortality. Unlike other modifiable risk factors such as smoking or diet, air pollution remains nearly impossible for individuals to fully avoid, especially in urban and industrialized regions. This perspective highlights how air pollution contributes to dementia, underscores the urgent need for public health interventions, and calls for policies that treat clean air not as a luxury but as a fundamental requirement for brain health.