A daring experiment in the UK recently recruited 13 volunteers, who agreed to inhale toxic smoke to help researchers understand its various effects on humans. We took a deep breath of air conditioner air and asked Forefront to summarize the reason so we could read with bated breath.
The goal of this ambitious trial (literally) is to better understand the link between air pollution and dementia risk. Previous studies have shown that dementia is more common in areas with higher air pollution, but the biological mechanisms behind this correlation remain unclear. This study aims (well, we stop the jokes, promise) to identify which components of pollutants are most harmful to the brain, and how.
Researchers from the departments of atmospheric sciences and toxicology at the University of Manchester, the University of Birmingham and Imperial College London focused on recruiting volunteers aged 50 and over with a family history of Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. In each session, they undergo a cognitive test, after which they inhale various pollutants using oxygen masks, in order to expose their bodies and brains to measurable levels of various toxins, such as exhaust smoke from diesel-powered vehicles, detergent fumes and even smoke from cooking. They then undergo cognitive tests and a blood test.
This study is one of the largest trials in this area on humans to date. The health risks for participants are carefully monitored, but despite this, it takes quite a bit of courage and dedication to participate in such an experiment.
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