title: Long-term air pollution and traffic noise exposures and cognitive function:A cross-sectional analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.
abstract: Investigations of adverse effects of air pollution (AP) and ambient noise on cognitive functions are apparently scarce, and findings seem to be inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of long-term exposure to AP and traffic noise with cognitive performance. At the second examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (2006-2008), cognitive performance was evaluated in 4086 participants. Long-term residential exposure to size-specific particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) with land use regression, to and traffic noise (weighted 24-h (LDEN) and nighttime (LNIGHT) means), was assessed according to the European Union (EU) Directive 2002/49/EC. Multiple regression models were calculated for the relationship of environmental exposures with a global cognitive score (GCS) and in five cognitive subtests, using single- and two-exposure models. In fully adjusted models, several AP metrics were negatively associated with four of five subtests and with GCS. For example, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5was correlated with verbal fluency, labyrinth test, and immediate and delayed verbal recall. A 10 dB(A) elevation in LDENand LNIGHTwas associated with GCS. Similar but not significant associations were found for the cognitive subtests. In two-exposure models including noise and air pollution simultaneously, the associations did not change markedly for air pollution, but attenuated numerically for noise. Long-term exposures to AP and traffic noise are negatively correlated with subtests related to memory and executive functions. There appears to be little evidence for mutual confounding.
authors.affiliation: a IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tzivian
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dlugaj
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology , University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: a IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.|d Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , University Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.affiliation: a IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Kateryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuks
authors.affiliation: a IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sugiri
authors.affiliation: a IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schikowski
authors.affiliation: e Rheinisches Institut für Umweltforschung , University of Köln , Köln , Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jakobs
authors.affiliation: f West German Heart Center , University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
authors.affiliation: d Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , University Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.affiliation: d Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , University Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
authors.affiliation: g Medical Faculty , Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology , University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weimar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D002947:Cities; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions