Air Pollution, Brain Health and Dementia. Presentation at the Scottish Air Quality Annual Seminar 2025

Much thanks for David Hector (Air Quality Consultant at Ricardo) and team for the opportunity to present at the Scottish Air Quality Annual Seminar 2025.

My presentation focused on the impact of air quality on brain health and dementia. 

I am Director of the InSPIRE, a research and policy consortium for mitigating the impact of air quality on brain health, mental health and dementia. 

AIR POLLUTION IMPACTS BRAIN HEALTH AND DEMENTIA?

YES IS DOES. . . . 

For those new to this link, the relationship between air pollution and brain health is no longer speculative. It is systemic, cumulative, and deeply concerning. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and ultrafine particles don’t simply irritate the lungs; they infiltrate biological systems, cross the blood–brain barrier, and trigger neuro-inflammatory cascades. Over time, these processes contribute to accelerated cognitive decline, structural brain changes, and an increased risk of dementia. 

It can also accelerate the progression of brain diseases, including neuro-degenerative disorders and dementia spectrum. 

But the impact is not linear. It is complex, shaped by a web of social, environmental, and biological interactions. Socioeconomic disadvantage amplifies vulnerability. Early-life exposure compounds later-life effects. And urban infrastructure, shaped by policy and planning decisions, becomes a silent architect of neurological health disparities.

This is not just a public health issue. It is a complexities of place (i.e., complex systems) problem. The brain does not sit in isolation; it is nested within a bio-social ecology. Complexity science invites us to move beyond single-cause models and toward dynamic, multi-level analyses that capture the interplay of genes, pollutants, social stressors, and institutional failures. 

The implication is clear: mitigating air pollution is not only about cleaner air; it is a long-term investment in cognitive equity, ageing resilience, and the mental health of future generations.

 

CLICK HERE to download the PowerPoint for my presentation

CLICK HERE to visit the InSPIRE consortium website on brain health and air quality. 

CLICK HERE to visit the Scottish Air Quality website and mapping of Scotland air quality.