How Does Air Pollution Affect Brain Health?

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Whether they originate from cars, factories [crackling], or wildfires, pollutants linger in the air we breathe. 

When these tiny particles [sniff] enter our bodies, they can take a [coughs] toll on our health.

Today, virtually everyone across the globe encounters enough air pollution [ding] to put them at a higher risk of health issues, like stroke or cardiovascular disease.

But neuroscientists are taking a closer look at how air pollution may affect brain health.

When we breathe in [inhale] polluted air, some of the microscopic heavy metals, gases, and particles in that air can trigger inflammation throughout the body, including the brain.

Under normal circumstances, inflammation is an important immune response.  

It helps our bodies heal from acute injuries or infections.

Usually, this process stops when immune cells tasked with addressing those threats finish their job.  

But when we regularly breath in polluted air, this consistent exposure [ugh] can confuse our immune system, leading it to inadvertently start harming healthy tissues over time.

Persistent neuroinflammation has been associated with a range of developmental, neurodegenerative, and mental disorders.

Researchers are still parsing which air pollutants are most harmful and how they make their way [woosh] to the brain

to better understand how we can address chronic inflammation in the brain and protect human health.

[Light splash, swoosh, light splashes]

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