Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports. HEPA purifiers—HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air—remove particulate matter from the air. Exposure to particulate matter has been connected to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Study Design and Results
Researchers analyzed data from a study of 119 people ages 30 to 74 living in Somerville, Massachusetts, an area with relatively high levels of traffic-related air pollution. Participants were randomly assigned to use a HEPA air purifier for one month and then a sham air purifier for one month, or the reverse order. Participants 40 years and older—about 42% of the sample—on average completed the section testing for mental flexibility and executive function 12% faster after using the HEPA purifier than after using the sham purifier. This improvement may seem small, but it is similar to the cognitive benefits that people experience from increasing their daily exercise.
Implications for Vulnerable Populations
Research shows that air pollution begins to affect cognitive function especially strongly around age 40, with these effects becoming increasingly prominent as people age. HEPA air purifiers may therefore be especially beneficial for older adults. The study did not explore this possibility, as fewer than 10 of the 119 participants were over age 60. Also, participants only used a HEPA air purifier for one month. It is unclear how longer durations of air purification might sustain or increase the improvement observed.
Some studies suggest that exposure to particulate matter reduces the amount of the brain’s white matter, which helps brain cells conduct electrical signals. The brain regions most harmed by air pollution are the ones that control mental flexibility and executive function, the same domains in which researchers saw improvements in their study.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.arcamax.com/healthtips/s-4077643