| Air Pollution and PM₂.₅: From Childhood IQ Loss to Alzheimer’s Disease |
| Paper ID : 1072-ISCH |
| Authors |
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Islam Atef Hamed *1, Habiba Osama Mohamed1, Omar Ayman Ali1, Mohamed Marwan Elmahdy2, Ahmed Mohamed Abdelmaguid1, Ahmed Esmat Abdel Moneim3 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University 2Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University 3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University |
| Abstract |
| Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), has emerged as a major environmental factor influencing brain health throughout the human lifespan. PM₂.₅ originates mainly from traffic emissions, industrial combustion, and biomass burning, allowing it to penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, enter systemic circulation, and ultimately reach the brain. Evidence from recent studies shows that prenatal exposure to PM₂.₅ and its chemical constituents is associated with reduced intelligence quotient (IQ) in children, indicating early neurodevelopmental vulnerability. Beyond childhood, prolonged exposure in adulthood contributes to the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Mechanistic pathways include oxidative stress, chronic neuroinflammation, and the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques, frequently accompanied by the deposition of metals such as iron and copper. Together, these findings illustrate the life-course impact of PM₂.₅ from early neurodevelopment to late-life neurodegeneration. These combined findings emphasize that PM₂.₅ is not only an environmental concern but also a neurological risk factor with long-term consequences. Addressing this challenge requires stricter air-quality policies and preventive interventions to safeguard cognitive function from early life to aging populations. |
| Keywords |
| Air pollution, PM₂.₅,Neurodevelopment, IQ loss, Alzheimer’s disease, Oxidative stress, Neuroinflammation, Amyloid-β plaques |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |