People who live near major roads have higher rates of dementia, new research suggests.
More than one in 10 dementia cases in people living within 50m of a major road could be down to traffic.
The researchers, who followed nearly two million people in Canada over 11 years, say air pollution or noisy traffic could be contributing to the brain’s decline.
Nearly 50 million people around the world have dementia, but the causes of the disease are still not understood. Dr Hong Chen, one of the report authors, said: “More research to understand this link is needed, particularly into the effects of
different aspects of traffic, such as air pollutants and noise.”
The study covers 2001 to 2012, during which time there were 243,611 cases of dementia diagnosed. The risk was greatest in those living closest to major roads. Compared with those living 300m away from a major road, the risk was 7% higher within 50m and 4% higher up to 100m.
The researchers adjusted the data to account for other risk factors, including poverty, obesity, education levels and moking. Their analysis, published by The Lancet, suggests that up to 11% of dementia cases within 50m of a major road could be caused by traffic.