Greenness modifies the association between ambient air pollution and cognitive function in Australian adolescents, but not in mid-life adults. (1st May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yichao; Crowe, Mallery; Knibbs, Luke D.; Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew; Mygind, Lærke; Kerr, Jessica A.; Wake, Melissa; Olsson, Craig A.; Enticott, Peter G.; Peters, Rachel L.; Daraganova, Galina; Mavoa, Suzanne; Lycett, Kate
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 324(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05-01
• Subjects: Adolescence -- Air pollution -- Cognitive function -- Greenness -- Longitudinal -- Mid-life; CI Confidence Interval -- IQR Interquartile Range -- IRSD Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage -- LSAC Longitudinal Study of Australian Children -- NDVI Normalised Difference Vegetation Index -- NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide -- OR Odds Ratio -- PM2.5 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm -- SEP socioeconomic position; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121329
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with reduced cognitive function in childhood and later life, with too few mid-life studies to draw conclusions. In contrast, residential greenness has been associated with enhanced cognitive function throughout the lifecourse. Here we examine the extent to which (1) ambient air pollution and residential greenness predict later cognitive function in adolescence and mid-life, and (2) greenness modifies air pollution-cognitive function associations. Participants : 6220 adolescents (51% male) and 2623 mid-life adults (96% mothers) from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Measures : Exposures: Annual average particulate matter &lt;2.5 μm (PM2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) and greenness (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) for residential addresses from validated land-use regression models over a 10–13-year period. Outcomes: Cognitive function from CogState tests of attention, working memory and executive function, dichotomised into poorer (worst quartile) versus not poor. Analyses : Adjusted mixed-effects generalised linear models with residential greenness assessed as an effect modifier (high vs. low divided at median). The annual mean for PM2.5 and NO2 across exposure windows was 6.3–6.8 μg/m 3, and 5.5–7.1 ppb, respectively. For adolescents, an IQR increment of NO2 was associated with 19–24% increased odds of having poorer executive function across all time windows, while associations weren&#39;t observed between air pollution and other outcomes. For adults, high NO2 predicted poorer cognitive function across all outcomes, while high PM2.5 predicted poorer attention only. There was little evidence of associations between greenness and cognitive function in adjusted models for both generations. Interactions were found between residential greenness, air pollutants and cognitive function in adolescents, but not adults. The magnitude of effects was similar across generations and exposure windows. Findings highlight the potential benefits of cognitive health associated with the regulation of air pollution and urban planning strategies for increasing green spaces and vegetation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: High residential exposure to PM2.5 predicted poorer attention in mid-life adults. High residential exposure to NO2 predicted poorer executive function. Effects of NO2 in mid-life were observed regardless of greenness exposure. Effects of NO2 were only observed in adolescents with low greenness exposure. Air pollution exposure predicted poorer cognitive function across two generations.