According to a new study, air pollution may be a significant factor in the trajectory of stroke. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that people who lived in areas with high levels of air pollution were more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function after a stroke than those who lived in areas with lower levels of pollution.
The study included data from over 1,600 stroke survivors who were followed for an average of four years. The participants were divided into two groups: those who lived in areas with high levels of air pollution, and those who lived in areas with low levels of pollution. The researchers found that, compared to the participants in the low-pollution group, the participants in the high-pollution group were more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function.
Interestingly, the link between air pollution and cognitive decline was strongest in those who had mild or moderate strokes. This suggests that air pollution may have a greater impact on cognitive function in the early stages of stroke recovery.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Jennifer Weuve, said that the findings add to the growing body of evidence linking air pollution to cognitive decline. “This study provides additional evidence that air pollution exposure may be a risk factor for cognitive decline after stroke,” she said. “Given the worldwide burden of stroke, and the widespread exposure to air pollution, even a small effect of air pollution on cognitive decline after stroke could have important public health implications.”
The study was published in the journal Stroke.
There is new evidence that suggests a correlation between air pollution and the trajectory of stroke. A study published in the journal Stroke found that people who live in areas with high levels of air pollution are more likely to experience a strokes, and that these strokes are more likely to be disabling or fatal.
Previous studies have looked at the link between air pollution and stroke, but this is the first study to examine the long-term effects of exposure to air pollution on stroke risk. The study followed over 55,000 people in China for four years. The participants were divided into three groups, based on the level of air pollution in their area of residence: low, moderate, or high.
The findings showed that people in the high-exposure group were 26% more likely to experience a stroke than those in the low-exposure group. Furthermore, the strokes experienced by people in the high-exposure group were more likely to be of the disabling or fatal variety.
These findings add to the growing body of evidence linking air pollution to health problems. Air pollution has been linked to a variety of other health conditions, including heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. The new findings on strokes add to theLIST case for taking action to reduce air pollution.
