title: Long-Term Air Pollution and Traffic Noise Exposures and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.
abstract: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) describes the intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Adverse effects of air pollution (AP) on cognitive functions have been proposed, but investigations of simultaneous exposure to noise are scarce.
  
  
  
  We analyzed the cross-sectional associations of long-term exposure to AP and traffic noise with overall MCI and amnestic (aMCI) and nonamnestic (naMCI) MCI.
  
  
  
  At the second examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study, cognitive assessment was completed in 4,086 participants who were 50-80 years old. Of these, 592 participants were diagnosed as having MCI (aMCI, n = 309; naMCI, n = 283) according to previously published criteria using five neuropsychological subtests. We assessed long-term residential concentrations for size-fractioned particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides with land use regression, and for traffic noise [weighted 24-hr (LDEN) and night-time (LNIGHT) means]. Logistic regression models adjusted for individual risk factors were calculated to estimate the association of environmental exposures with MCI in single- and two-exposure models.
  
  
  
  Most air pollutants and traffic noise were associated with overall MCI and aMCI. For example, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and a 10 A-weighted decibel [dB(A)] increase in LDEN were associated with overall MCI as follows [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)]: 1.16 (1.05, 1.27) and 1.40 (1.03, 1.91), respectively, and with aMCI as follows: 1.22 (1.08, 1.38) and 1.53 (1.05, 2.24), respectively. In two-exposure models, AP and noise associations were attenuated [e.g., for aMCI, PM2.5 1.13 (0.98, 1.30) and LDEN 1.46 (1.11, 1.92)].
  
  
  
  Long-term exposures to air pollution and traffic noise were positively associated with MCI, mainly with the amnestic subtype.
  
  
  
  Tzivian L, Dlugaj M, Winkler A, Weinmayr G, Hennig F, Fuks KB, Vossoughi M, Schikowski T, Weimar C, Erbel R, Jöckel KH, Moebus S, Hoffmann B, on behalf of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study Investigative Group. 2016. Long-term air pollution and traffic noise exposures and mild cognitive impairment in older adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1361-1368; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509824.
authors: Environmental Epidemiology Group, IUF (Institut für umweltmedizinische Forschung)-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Lilian
authors: L
authors: Tzivian
authors: Martha
authors: M
authors: Dlugaj
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Winkler
authors: Gudrun
authors: G
authors: Weinmayr
authors: Frauke
authors: F
authors: Hennig
authors: Kateryna B
authors: KB
authors: Fuks
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Vossoughi
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Schikowski
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Weimar
authors: Raimund
authors: R
authors: Erbel
authors: Karl-Heinz
authors: KH
authors: Jöckel
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Moebus
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D052638:Particulate Matter