Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, APOE-ε4 status, and cognitive decline in a cohort of older adults in northern Manhattan

Erin R. Kulick; Mitchell S.V. Elkind; Amelia K. Boehme; Nina R. Joyce; Nicole Schupf; Joel D. Kaufman; Richard Mayeux; Jennifer J. Manly; Gregory A. Wellenius

Environment International (Mar 2020)

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, APOE-ε4 status, and cognitive decline in a cohort of older adults in northern Manhattan

Erin R. Kulick,
Mitchell S.V. Elkind,
Amelia K. Boehme,
Nina R. Joyce,
Nicole Schupf,
Joel D. Kaufman,
Richard Mayeux,
Jennifer J. Manly,
Gregory A. Wellenius

Affiliations

Erin R. Kulick: Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Corresponding author at: 121 S Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
Mitchell S.V. Elkind: Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Amelia K. Boehme: Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Nina R. Joyce: Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
Nicole Schupf: Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Joel D. Kaufman: Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
Richard Mayeux: Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Jennifer J. Manly: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Gregory A. Wellenius: Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 136

Abstract

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Background: There is mounting evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution is related to accelerated cognitive decline in aging populations. Factors that influence individual susceptibility remain largely unknown, but may involve the apolipoprotein E genotype E4 (APOE-ε4) allele. Objectives: We assessed whether the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive decline differed by APOE-ε4 status and cognitive risk factors. Methods: The Washington Heights Inwood Community Aging Project (WHICAP) is a prospective study of aging and dementia. Neuropsychological testing and medical examinations occur every 18–24 months. We used mixed-effects models to evaluate whether the association between markers of ambient air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO2]), fine [PM2.5], and coarse [PM10] particulate matter) and the rate of decline in global and domain-specific cognition differed across strata defined by APOE-ε4 genotypes and cognitive risk factors, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and temporal trends. Results: Among 4821 participants with an average of 6 years follow-up, higher concentrations of ambient air pollution were associated with more rapid cognitive decline. This association was more pronounced among APOE-ε4 carriers (p < 0.001). A one interquartile range increase in NO2 was associated with an additional decline of 0.09 standard deviations (SD) (95%CI −0.1, −0.06) in global cognition across biennial visits among APOE-ε4 positive individuals and a 0.07 SD (95%CI −0.09, −0.05) decline among APOE-ε4 negative individuals. Results for PM2.5, PM10 and cognitive domains were similar. The association between air pollutants and rate of cognitive decline also varied across strata of race-ethnicity with the association strongest among White non-Hispanic participants. Conclusions: These results add to the body of evidence on the adverse impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive aging and brain health and provide new insights into the genetic and behavioral factors that may impact individual susceptibility. Keywords: Air pollution, Cognitive decline, Aging, Epidemiology, APOE-ε4 allele, Cognitive risk factors

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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