The cognitive toll of household air pollution: cross–sectional associations between polluting cooking fuel use, cognitive functions and brain MRI in a rural aging population from Karnataka, India

IF 6.2 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia Pub Date : 2025-06-28 DOI:10.1016/j.lansea.2025.100624

Sumedha Mitra , Manogna Sagiraju , Hitesh Pradhan , David Yao , Jayant M. Pinto , Jonas S. Sundarakumar , CBR-SANSCOG Study Team

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Household air pollution (HAP) from polluting cooking fuels, a rampant issue in rural India, is suspected to be a significant modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment; however, evidence supported by neuroimaging in this population, is lacking.

Methods

Baseline cross-sectional data (n = 4145) of participants aged ≥45 years from the ongoing Centre for Brain Research-Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence, and COGnition (CBR-SANSCOG) study in a rural South Indian aging population, was utilised. HAP exposure was proxied via polluting cooking fuel or technology use (only clean vs. at least one polluting vs. only polluting cooking technology use). Global and domain-specific cognitive functioning was assessed using computerised culturally adapted test batteries. A subset (n = 994) underwent brain MRI (3T) to estimate regional brain volumes and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) burden. Fully adjusted linear regression models were used to test the associations between HAP exposure, cognition, and brain MRI parameters.

Findings

Only polluting cooking technology users had significantly lower scores in global cognition (β_std. = −0.28 [−0.44, −0.11], p_adj [FDR corrected p-value] = 0.002), visuospatial ability (β_std. = −0.28 [−0.48, −0.08], p_adj. = 0.013), and executive functions (β_std. = −0.25 [−0.44, −0.07], p_adj. = 0.019), whereas at least one polluting cooking technology users had lower scores in global cognition only (β_std. = −0.10 [−0.15, −0.04], p_adj. <0.001), compared to the clean cooking technology users. Upon sex-stratification, only female polluting cooking technology users had lower global cognitive scores (β_std. = −0.11 [−0.20, −0.03], p_adj. = 0.018) and lower hippocampus volumes (β_std. = −0.18 [−0.35, −0.01], p = 0.030).

Interpretation

Polluting cooking technology users may be at a higher risk for cognitive impairment. Rural females, who tend to be more exposed than males, could have greater vulnerability to HAP's adverse effects on the brain. Policies promoting clean cooking fuel/technology adoption are imperative.

Funding

CBR-SANSCOG study is funded by the Centre for Brain Research, India.

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家庭空气污染的认知代价：印度卡纳塔克邦农村老龄化人口中污染性烹饪燃料使用、认知功能和脑MRI之间的横断面关联

来自污染性烹饪燃料的家庭空气污染（HAP）是印度农村一个猖獗的问题，被怀疑是认知障碍的一个重要的可改变的风险因素；然而，在这一人群中，缺乏神经影像学支持的证据。方法：基线横断面数据（n = 4145）来自正在进行的脑研究中心- srinivaspura老化、神经衰老和认知（CBR-SANSCOG）在南印度农村老龄化人口中的研究，参与者年龄≥45岁。HAP暴露是通过污染的烹饪燃料或技术使用（只有清洁的、至少一种污染的、只有污染的烹饪技术使用）进行代理的。使用计算机化的文化适应性测试电池评估整体和特定领域的认知功能。一个子集（n = 994）接受了脑MRI （3T）来估计区域脑容量和白质高强度（WMHs）负担。采用完全调整的线性回归模型来检验HAP暴露、认知和脑MRI参数之间的关系。研究结果：只有污染性烹饪技术使用者的整体认知得分明显较低(βstd。= - 0.28 [- 0.44, - 0.11]， padj [FDR校正p值]= 0.002)，视觉空间能力(βstd。=−0.28[−0.48,−0.08],padj。= 0.013)，执行功能(βstd。=−0.25[−0.44,−0.07],padj。= 0.019)，而至少有一项污染性烹饪技术使用者仅在全局认知方面得分较低(βstd。=−0.10[−0.15,−0.04],padj。<0.001)，与清洁烹饪技术使用者相比。在性别分层中，只有女性污染性烹饪技术使用者的整体认知得分较低(βstd。=−0.11[−0.20,−0.03],padj。= 0.018)，海马体积较低(βstd。=−0.18[−0.35,−0.01],p = 0.030)。污染性烹饪技术的使用者可能有更高的认知障碍风险。农村女性比男性更容易受到HAP对大脑的不良影响。促进采用清洁烹饪燃料/技术的政策势在必行。cbr - sanscog研究由印度大脑研究中心资助。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia

CiteScore

2.20

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0.00%

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