Air pollution and cognitive impairment among middle-aged and older adults in latin america and the caribbean: a scoping review

Abstract

Evidence from European and North American countries suggests an association between exposure to air pollution and increased prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia, thus recognizing a potentially modifiable risk factor for the onset of the disease. This study aimed to describe the relationship between exposure to air pollution and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults in Latin American and Caribbean cities, according to literature published to date. A scoping review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We searched PubMed and Web of Science to identify articles published until August 2023. We extracted data from a total of eight studies from Mexico and Brazil that investigated the association between exposure to air pollutants and impairment in cognitive tests among older adults. Most of them were cross-sectional studies. All but one study found an association between indoor or outdoor air pollution exposure and lower scores on cognitive tests. Our findings underscore that air pollution should be considered a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Future long-term studies are needed in Latin American cities to estimate the size of the impacts of air pollution on cognitive impairment and guide public policies. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.