Letter to the editor: Air pollution and dementia

As a neurologist, I am concerned about the increasing prevalence of dementia. Current estimates of dementia risk are 11-23% for Americans. The number of new dementia cases is expected to double by 2060.

Some risk factors for dementia (e.g., genetics) are nonmodifiable. However, one important modifiable risk factor is exposure to air pollution. According to a study of over 27,000 adults, published by the American Medical Association (October 2023), the greatest air pollution risk for dementia is fine particulate matter from agriculture, traffic, burning coal and wildfires. As many as 188,000 cases of dementia per year may be due to exposure to this pollution.

As a neurologist, and as the daughter of a sadly demented mom, I want to do everything I can to minimize the risk of dementia — for my patients and for myself.

This is why I want to call attention to a part of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” titled Subtitle B — Environment. This section (pages 264-272) includes such items as “Repeal and Rescission relating to funding to Address Air Pollution at Schools” and “Repeal of EPA Rules Relating to Greenhouse Gas and Multi-pollutant Emissions Standards.” These sections roll back prior provisions in the Clean Air Act and in Public Law 117-169, which aimed to mitigate the harms caused by air pollution.

I oppose Subtitle B of the “Big Beautiful Bill.” I urge everyone to read the bill for themselves and to encourage our senators to carefully study it before voting on it.

Dr. Marti Haykin

Unity