Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of premature death and conditions that become more common with age. Researchers investigated whether this exposure actually accelerates the ageing process itself. Ageing is often measured using a metric such as biological age, which indicates how well the body functions compared to chronological age. Inflammation and the presence of senescent cells, which are damaged cells that no longer function properly, also play a role in this.
Studies show that people who are heavily exposed to polluted air have higher biological ages. That is because air pollution causes chronic inflammation and an increase in those damaging senescent cells in the body. This can lead to accelerated deterioration of organs and tissues. In addition, research shows that there is a link with a higher chance of dementia, which is probably related to changes in brain structure caused by those same harmful processes.
The results emphasise that it is not enough to look solely at chronological age. By gaining a better understanding of what happens at the cellular level, we get a clearer picture of how environmental factors such as air pollution contribute to the ageing process. Reducing exposure to these factors may therefore be important for promoting healthy ageing.
These insights serve as a reminder that protection against polluted health can contribute to maintaining health and resilience in older age.
Source: Reason
