Long-term air pollution exposure raises depression risk: Studies

Long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of depression, according to a pair of new studies published in the JAMA network of scientific journals.

A study published on Friday in JAMA Network Open found that long-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollution increases the risk of late-onset depression among the elderly.

The other study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that long-term exposure to even low levels of air pollutants was associated with an increased incidence of depression and anxiety.

Air pollution has long been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Reference:

Qiu X, Shi L, Kubzansky LD, et al. Association of Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution With Late-Life Depression in Older Adults in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(2):e2253668. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.53668