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Date Available

4-30-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Graduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

College

Public Health

Department/School/Program

Public Health

Faculty

Erin Abner

Committee Member

Yisi Liu

Faculty

Tianjun Lu

Faculty

Jay Christian

Abstract

Background: New findings indicate that environmental factors, such as air pollution, could contribute to cognitive decline among older adults. Nonetheless, extensive longitudinal studies in the U.S. investigating this connection are few and far between.

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and cognitive function in older adults in the United States.

Methods: We examined data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2018), which included 234,250 observations from adults aged 50 and older. Cognitive performance was evaluated based on immediate and delayed word recall, a 27-point cognitive summary score, backward from 20, and others. We used annual average concentrations of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, SO2, O3) estimated using geospatial modeling techniques. Adjusted linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations.

Result: Increased exposure to all six pollutants was associated with lower cognitive scores, with more significant declines noted for CO and NO2 exposure. Gender-stratified analyses indicated that men experienced more pronounced cognitive declines compared to women.

Conclusion: Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with slight yet measurable declines in cognitive function among older adults in the U.S.

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