When thinking about the causes of dementia, old age is probably the first thing that comes to mind as it is primarily associated with Alzheimer’s, a disease that hits the older age groups hardest. Diabetes and high cholesterol are in the high-risk category, according to Stanford Medicine, along with family history, smoking, and alcohol use. One cause you may not have linked to this devastating condition is air pollution, but according to a recent study from the University of California, San Diego, there is a link.
health concerns
If you think this doesn’t apply to you as someone who lives far from a busy highway or industrial facility, you might be in for a chilling surprise. The pollutants cited in the study are particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), “which are associated with accelerated age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD),” according to the study’s authors from UCSD’s Psychiatry Department and Aging departments.
They studied 1,100 men between the ages of 56 and 68 and found a decline in cognitive performance associated with higher exposure to the pollutants studied, concluding in particular that “the risk of cognitive decline in later life or the progression of dementia can begin in midlife”. In other words, environmental factors in your home and neighborhood can contribute to devastating health effects later on.
particulate matter
Higher PM levels can be a health and safety factor in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, our indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than the air we breathe outdoors. “Indoor particulate matter can be generated by cooking, combustion activities (including burning candles, using fireplaces, using unvented space heaters or kerosene heaters, smoking cigarettes), and some hobbies.”
Outdoor sources entering our homes can include air pollution from vehicles and industry, and smoke and ash from wildfires, which can spread thousands of miles beyond the blaze.
Not only can PM pose a risk of dementia, but it can also worsen heart and lung diseases and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
nitrogen dioxide
NO2 can also arise in your home. The National Institutes of Health said on its website: “Among the most important indoor sources are tobacco smoke and particularly gas, wood, oil, kerosene and coal appliances such as stoves, ovens, room and water heaters and chimneys that are left unflushed or poorly maintained Devices.”
Outdoor sources that could easily enter your home include NO2 from gas powered vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, and construction sites, all of which can be as close as the yard or property line beyond your window.
In addition to posing a risk of dementia, NO2 can aggravate breathing problems, particularly in asthmatics, may contribute to the development of asthma, and has been linked to learning disabilities in children and Parkinson’s disease in other studies.
Wellness Planning Strategies
Architects, interior designers and remodeling professionals deal with these questions when they take on residential projects. For his Bay Area clients, San Francisco resident Daniel Ian Smith must consider wildfires alongside the other factors that contribute to a healthier and safer home in the city. “For major renovations at San Francisco Victorians, new HVAC systems with HEPA filtration are a no-brainer. However, for the simplest of design projects, we still plan to have standalone air purifiers in each bedroom and living room. They’re invaluable during fire season, but there’s growing evidence they’re just as valuable year-round for removing common indoor pollutants,” he commented in a design industry discussion on Facebook. These solutions he quotes can address all PM risks.
Smith also observed the impact of California’s phasing out of gas appliances for newly built homes as consumer awareness of indoor pollutants increased. “Combined with a federal discussion, the concern has spread to our East Coast customers.” He noted that while gas has long been a gold standard for cooking, induction is proving to be an attractive alternative for his customers. This can help eliminate a cause of NO2 exposure.
Architectural firm Mithun, with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, frequently works on large-scale, multi-family and mixed-use projects. Principal Hilary Noll pointed out that recent California and Bay Area regulations now require improved ventilation and filtration systems and other proactive measures for buildings in target areas with poor air quality. “Many of our multifamily projects installed MERV 13 before it was a code requirement,” she shared in an email.
“Another strategy we use is the installation of heat or energy recovery ventilation systems (HRVs or ERVs) that provide continuously filtered fresh air while tempering the air supply with the exhaust air to improve indoor thermal comfort and indoor air quality to improve. These are installed in each dwelling unit and exceed energy regulation compliance,” she noted.
Noll also commented on the elimination of natural gas in building systems and appliances in favor of electrification, which she called “another proven strategy to improve indoor air quality and particularly pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels, including nitrogen dioxide.”
Wellness Maintenance Strategies
Kim Levell designs for homeowners in Tampa and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and suggested clean building practices and non-toxic materials in another designer group discussion on Facebook. “I have air purifiers that I recommend. Cleaning chemicals, perpetual chemicals, bad water, things like PFAs and the use of toxins are ubiquitous,” she explained. “Outgassing from furniture and building products affects me more than a properly ventilated gas range,” she added.
Studies have shown that many homeowners don’t use their kitchen exhaust fans because they are noisy and inefficient. Therefore, there are gas stoves that should be properly ventilated, but are not. In addition, some fans that can be described as “working” only circulate air in the room.
If you’re replacing appliances with a design professional like Levell or Smith as part of a new build or remodel, they can provide advice on quiet models that are right for your cooktop. If you’re simply swapping out appliances at a dealership, be sure to ask if you can match your new (or existing) cooktop or range with a model of the right size and rating that will keep your kitchen cleaner and safer. Not only are you enjoying the benefits of a healthier and more comfortable home today, but you can contribute to your health for years to come.
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I am a Wellness Design Consultant and Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach with 18 years of building, home design and remodeling experience.
my third book Wellness by designpublished by Simon & Schuster in September 2020, won a prestigious Bruss Book Award in 2021.
In addition to writing, I speak at regional and national conferences on wellness design topics, and advise companies and analysts in the design industry.
I currently host twice a month Wellness Wednesday Clubhouse rooms, 1st and 3rd week of month at 4:00pm Eastern/1:00pm Pacific. You can view the current schedule here.
You can read more of my writing on my website at jamiegold.net.
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