New research shows tiny airborne particles speed up the damage in Alzheimers brains

• Living in areas with higher levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is linked to more severe buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in Alzheimers disease.

• The study used post-mortem brain tissue from over 600 individuals, combined with pollution mapping, to compare those exposures and brain pathology.

• Even just one year of higher exposure was associated with faster cognitive decline, worse judgment, and more rapid Alzheimers progression.

We already know air pollution isnt great for our lungs and heart.

Now, a study from Penn Medicine suggests it also accelerates the damage in Alzheimers disease.

The research makes a clear case that fine particulate matter in the air (PM2.5) doesnt just raise dementia risk it appears to make Alzheimers neuropathology worse, and speeds up symptoms like memory loss and trouble with daily tasks.

This study shows that air pollution doesnt just increase the risk of dementiait actually makes Alzheimers disease worse, researcher Edward Lee, M.D., Ph.D., said in a news release.

As researchers continue to search for new treatments, its important to uncover all of the factors that contribute to the disease, including the influence of the environment in which they live.

How the study was done

The researchers studied more than 600 brains donated to the Penn Medicine Brain Bank. These were brains from people who had been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease.

They also collected data about how much PM2.5 pollution each person had been exposed to based on where they lived. To measure pollution, researchers used a mix of satellite data and local air quality monitors.

The team focused on amyloid plaques and tau tangles the two kinds of protein build-ups in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimers disease. These protein deposits are thought to disrupt brain communication and contribute to cognitive decline.

The researchers also reviewed medical records to see how fast each persons cognition (thinking, memory) and daily functioning got worse.

The results

The findings were pretty striking. For every 1 microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 exposure (a small rise), there was a 19% higher chance of more severe amyloid and tau buildup.

Additionally, people living in more polluted areas showed faster cognitive and functional decline. That means things like memory loss, trouble speaking, impaired judgment, and difficulty with personal care set in more quickly.

An important detail: even one year of elevated pollution exposure showed measurable effects on brain pathology.

The study also notes some limitationsit didnt measure each persons exact exposure (for instance inside their homes, or workplace exposures), so there could be additional pollution effects not captured.

In the United States, air pollution is at the lowest levels in decades, but even just a year living in an area with high levels of pollution can have a big impact on a persons risk for developing Alzheimers disease, Dr. Lee said. It underscores the value of environmental justice efforts that focus on reducing air pollution to improve public health.

What you can do to lower your risk

While we cant always control the air we breathe, there are some practical steps you can take to reduce exposure and protect your brain health:

• Check your local air quality. Apps like AirNow or most weather apps show daily air quality. If levels are unhealthy, try to limit time outdoors.

• Use air filters at home. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can reduce fine particles indoors, especially if you live near busy roads or industrial areas.

• Close windows on high-pollution days. Keeping doors and windows shut can help prevent polluted outdoor air from seeping inside.

• Avoid outdoor exercise during peak pollution. If possible, plan walks or workouts in the early morning or later evening when pollution levels are often lower.

• Support clean air policies. Community-wide effortslike cleaner public transportation, reducing emissions, and promoting green spacesmake a big difference in lowering long-term risk.

New Swedish study finds that anti-inflammatory, plant-rich diets help older adults accumulate fewer health conditions over time

• Older adults who follow high-quality diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and unsaturated fats accumulate chronic diseases more slowly.

• Diets with higher inflammatory potentialthose heavy in red/processed meats, refined grains, sweetsaccelerate the accumulation of diseases.

• Benefits are especially clear for cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric conditions; diets had little effect on musculoskeletal disease accumulation.

As we get older, many of us worry about developing multiple chronic conditions heart disease, dementia, depression, and more.

A large recent study out of Sweden asks an important question: can what we eat slow down the rate at which these health problems pile up?

The short answer seems to be yes.

The research shows that older people who stick to healthier, less inflammatory diets tend to accumulate fewer chronic diseases over time compared to those who favor more inflammatory diets.

Our results show how important diet is in influencing the development of multimorbidity in ageing populations, researcher Adrin Carballo-Casla said in a news release.

The study

The researchers tracked 2,473 community-dwelling older adults (aged 60+) from the SNAC-K cohort in Stockholm for up to 15 years.

They collected information on participants diets using food frequency questionnaires in the first three waves of the study (during the first ~six years). They also gathered data on chronic diseases at multiple points over all 15 years, through interviews, medical records, and health registers.

To measure how good or inflammatory a diet was, they calculated how closely each person followed four established dietary patterns:

• MIND (focused on brain-healthy eating)

• AHEI (Alternate Healthy Eating Index)

• AMED (Alternative Mediterranean Diet)

• EDII (Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index) this one measures how much a diet might promote inflammation.
  

They then used statistical models to see how diet quality related to the rate at which chronic conditions accumulated, overall and in three organ-system categories: cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and musculoskeletal. They adjusted for things like age, sex, education, smoking, physical activity, total calorie intake, and others.

The results

• The people who scored higher on the healthy diet scales (MIND, AHEI, AMED) accumulated chronic diseases at a significantly slower annual rate. For example, each standard deviation increase in AHEI or MIND corresponded to noticeably slower disease gain per year.

• By contrast, those with diets scoring high on the inflammatory index (EDII) had faster accumulation of chronic diseases.

• When breaking down by disease type: diet quality had strong associations for cardiovascular diseases (like heart disease, stroke) and neuropsychiatric diseases (such as depression, dementia). But for musculoskeletal diseases (bones, joints), there was no clear relationship.
  Some differences showed up by age and sex: for instance, the healthy diets seemed especially beneficial in slowing cardiovascular disease accumulation among women, and neuropsychiatric benefits were more pronounced in the oldest participants.
  

How to Put the Research into Practice

Want to eat in a way that slows the build-up of chronic conditions as you age? These tips, based on the Swedish studys findings, show what a healthier, less inflammatory plate can look like:

Simple Swaps

• Load up on vegetables, leafy greens, and fruits.

• Choose whole grains instead of refined (brown rice, oats, whole-wheat bread).

• Use olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish for healthy fats.

• Cut back on red/processed meats, sugary drinks, and packaged sweets.

• Add beans and legumes regularly for protein and fiber.
  

A Sample Day

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries and walnuts

• Lunch: Lentil and veggie soup with whole-grain bread

• Snack: Apple slices with almond butter

• Dinner: Grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and quinoa

• Dessert: Fresh fruit or a square of dark chocolate

Wheelchairs, service dogs, other aids must be accepted under federal law

• Lawsuit says Uber drivers continue to turn away riders with service animals and wheelchairs

• Justice Department accuses company of violating Americans With Disabilities Act

• Uber rejects claims, says it enforces zero-tolerance policy for discrimination

The U.S. Justice Department has sued Uber Technologies Inc., alleging the ride-sharing company has repeatedly failed to accommodate passengers with disabilities.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Northern California, claims Uber drivers routinely refuse rides to people traveling with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. Federal attorneys said such denials violate the Americans With Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal access to public services and businesses.

This is not the first time Uber has faced disability-related complaints. In 2021, the company agreed to pay more than $2 million to tens of thousands of riders and make policy changes after the government accused it of charging discriminatory fees to people with disabilities.

Uber pushed back against the new lawsuit. Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber full stop, a spokesperson said. The company said it enforces a zero-tolerance rule for confirmed denials of service and may permanently remove drivers who violate the policy.

Every driver must agree to the companys U.S. service animal policy and accessibility rules before they can use the Uber app. The company also offers an option for riders to alert drivers in advance if they will be traveling with a service animal. But the Justice Department said those measures havent stopped ongoing discrimination.

Ubers shares trimmed earlier gains after the lawsuit was announced, rising 0.7% in New York afternoon trading.

What it means for riders

• Service animals: If you rely on a guide dog or other trained animal, Uber drivers are required by law and company policy to accept your ride. Any confirmed denial can result in a drivers permanent removal.

• Wheelchairs: Riders who use foldable or stowable wheelchairs must also be accommodated. Refusal of service may violate federal disability law.

• How to report problems: Riders can file complaints through the Uber app or with the Justice Department if they experience repeated denials. Past settlements have shown that federal regulators are willing to pursue compensation.

Dollar stores are now the fastest-growing food retailer in the U.S.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Dollar store food purchases nearly doubled between 2008 and 2020, according to new research.

• Lower-income households and people of color are most likely to turn to dollar stores for food.

• While dollar store food is less healthy overall, most families balance purchases with healthier options elsewhere.

In many rural areas of America, supermarkets are few and far between. That gap is increasingly being filled by dollar stores, according to new research from Tufts University and the USDA-Economic Research Service.

The study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, shows that calories obtained from dollar store purchases nearly doubled between 2008 and 2020, rising from 3.4% to 6.5% of total household food purchases.

The analysis, which tracked food-buying habits of 180,000 U.S. households over 12 years, sheds light on how the rapid expansion of dollar stores has influenced American diets. While dollar store food purchases were found to be less nutritious than items bought from grocery and club stores, researchers say families appear to be using them strategically, often supplementing with healthier foods from other outlets.

The trend is particularly pronounced among lower-income households and families led by people of color, groups that often face limited access to full-service grocery stores. In rural areas, dollar stores frequently serve as the most convenient option, especially where the nearest supermarket may be miles away.

People go to different types of stores for different reasons, and the dollar store is one that people choose because of the price advantage, said study lead author Wenhui Feng, a professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. There are a lot of concerns that foods on dollar store shelves are less healthy, but whats on the shelf does not equal what each household takes home.

Dollar stores expanding footprint

Dollar stores are now the fastest-growing food retailer in the U.S., with more than 37,000 locations nationwide. Their presence is particularly strong in the South and in communities outside of major cities. While they offer low prices, most dollar stores primarily sell packaged foods and sugary beverages, with limited fresh produce or meat options.

Concerns about the spread of dollar stores have prompted at least 25 local governments to impose restrictions on their expansion. Critics point to potential public health risks, competition with local grocers, and even safety issues tied to understaffing. But the study suggests more research is needed before policymakers can fully assess their impact.

On average, U.S. households still obtain more than half (55%) of their non-restaurant calories from grocery stores and another 22% from club stores. While foods from dollar stores scored lower on measures of healthfulness, the researchers found evidence that shoppers may be offsetting those purchases with better choices elsewhere.

Some people seem to be going to dollar stores strategically to buy sweets and snacks, along with other packaged foods, said senior author Sean Cash of Tufts University. We need more data on the real effects of dollar stores on healthy eating, as some communities may be putting the policy cart before the horse.