Canadian researchers have connected automobile exhaust to impaired brain function in a recent study that was carried out by academics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria and published in the journal Environment Health.
University of British Columbia (UBC) and University of Victoria links automobile exhaust to impairment of brain function
UBC stated in a release on Tuesday that it “has shown that common levels of traffic pollution can impair human brain function in only a matter of hours.”
Just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust causes a decrease in brains functional connectivity
According to the press release, the peer-reviewed article highlighted how “just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust causes a decrease in the brain’s functional connectivity – a measure of how different areas of the brain interact and communicate with each other. The study provides the first evidence in humans, from a controlled experiment, of altered brain network connectivity induced by air pollution.”
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, also known as fMRI, 25 adults were exposed to diesel exhaust and filtered air at various durations in a lab. Their brain activity was then recorded before and after each exposure. It was carried out at Vancouver General Hospital’s Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, which is part of UBC.
Study addresses gap in knowledge of neurological effect of exposure to traffic related air pollution
Even while the negative effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the body, notably the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, have been documented, the study attempted to fill the information gap about the neurological effects of exposure to TRAP.
Study provides evidence supporting connection between air pollution and congintion
Professor and director of respiratory medicine at UBC and study’s senior author, Dr. Chris Carlsten, remarked, “This study, which is the first of its kind in the world, provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition.”
However, the effects of exposure were only short-lived, and following the exposure, participant connection restored to normal.
However Dr. Carlsen “speculated that the effects could be long-lasting where exposure is continuous.”
“People may want to think twice the next time they’re stuck in traffic with the windows rolled down,” he said, adding, “It’s important to ensure that your car’s air filter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less busy route.”
The default mode network (DMN), a collection of interconnected brain regions that are crucial for memory and internal thought, was studied by the researchers.
Functional connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN) is linked to decreased cognitive function and depressive symptoms
First author of the study and University of Victoria professor of psychology Dr. Jodie Gawryluk said “We know that altered functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks,”
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