Air pollution is typically associated with heart and lung diseases.
However, researchers are increasingly examining whether the nervous system may also be harmed, even at low levels of exposure.
New Nordic research now suggests that environmental factors may play a larger role in serious neurological diseases than previously believed.
A broader perspective
The causes of ALS and other motor neuron diseases remain unclear.
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Genetics explains only part of the risk, which is why researchers have long focused on possible environmental influences.
Powers Health reports, based on a study published in JAMA Neurology, that air pollution may be one such factor.
The study is based on extensive Swedish health data.
Sweden is often used in this type of research because the country combines relatively clean air with detailed population and disease registries.
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What the researchers examined
According to Powers Health, the researchers analyzed data from 1,463 people with newly diagnosed motor neuron disease.
These individuals were compared with both healthy control participants and their siblings.
The researchers assessed participants’ long-term exposure to air pollution based on place of residence and measured pollution levels.
The results showed that prolonged exposure was associated with a clearly increased risk of disease.
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Implications for ALS
Motor neuron diseases affect the nerve cells that control the body’s movements.
ALS is the most common form and accounts for up to 90 percent of cases, according to Powers Health.
According to the ALS Association, ALS is a progressive disease in which the connection between the brain and muscles gradually weakens.
The study also found that higher pollution levels were associated with faster functional decline and increased mortality after diagnosis.
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Lead researcher Jing Wu points to inflammation as a possible explanation, according to Powers Health.
Air pollution can trigger chronic inflammatory conditions that, over time, may damage the nervous system.
Sources: Powers Health, JAMA Neurology, and ALS Association.
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