A new research project at Karolinska Instutet has been awarded a five-year grant from FORMAS, the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development, to study how long-term exposure to air pollution and transport noise may influence the risk of developing dementia, using large population-based data from Sweden.
The project titled "Air Pollution, Noise, and Dementia Risk: Biological Pathways and Resilience Mechanisms", will examine how everyday environmental factors such as polluted air and traffic noise affect brain health over time.
The researchers will examine not only who is most at risk, but also which factors may protect against these harmful exposures, such as access to green spaces and different forms of resilience. Furthermore, they will explore how these environmental factors may influence the brain and cardiovascular system over time.
The overall aim is to generate knowledge that can support prevention strategies and contribute to healthier living environments.
"This grant allows us to take an important step in understanding how everyday environmental exposures affect brain health", says Debora Rizzuto , principal researcher at the Aging Research Center (ARC) , Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society . She continues:
"On a personal level, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead this research together with outstanding collaborators and to contribute to addressing a major public health challenge."
The project builds on world-leading Swedish research infrastructures, including National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR) , REWHARD , and the Swedish Twin Registry (STR) , highlighting the value of collaboration and data integration across disciplines. By combining large-scale longitudinal data with advanced analytical approaches, the project has strong potential to inform public health policies and urban planning, ultimately contributing to healthier and more sustainable societies.
