L'inquinamento accellera l'invecchiamento del cervello. Lo afferma uno studio dell'Università della California, pubblicato sulla rivista "Annals of Neurology".
La ricerca è stata condotta su circa 1'400 donne senza demenza. Gli scienziati, utilizzando dei dati riferiti al luogo di residenza e alla qualità dell'aria nell'arco di sette anni dal 1999, hanno valutato il grado di esposizione delle partecipanti agli elementi contaminati.
Tra il 2005 e il 2006, quando le esaminate erano nell'età di 71-89 anni, è stato poi misurato il loro volume cerebrale tramite risonanza magnetica e si è visto che ad ogni aumento di 3,49 mcg per centimetro cubo di esposizione cumulativa agli inquinanti c'è stato un calo di materia bianca, pari ad 1-2 anni di invecchiamento del cervello. Questo elemento è rimasto costante pur prendendo in considerazione anche altre variabili come ad esempio età, fumo, attività fisica, pressione del sangue, indice di massa corporea, istruzione e guadagni.
ATS/se
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