In Polluted Cities, Kids Show Hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease may get a very early start in people living in polluted megacities, according to a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Research. The University of Montana (UM) researchers detected early stages of the disease in babies less than a year old.

The researchers believe that the harmful effects begin when tiny pollution particles enter the brain through the nose, lungs and gastrointestinal tract; these particles then proceed to damage all barriers and travel throughout the body via the circulatory system.

For the study, the research team studied 203 autopsies of Mexico City residents between the ages of 11 months and 40 years. Mexico City is home to 24 million people exposed daily to concentrations of fine particulate matter and ozone above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The researchers focused on two abnormal proteins that indicate development of Alzheimer’s, hyperphosphorylated tau and beta amyloid. They detected the early stages of the disease in babies less than a year old.

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Written by Traci Pedersen for psychcentral.com