New Canadian study suggests that busy road proximity could up the risk of dementia.
(Mirror Daily, United States) – A Canadian study reveals that the proximity to a busy and noisy road can increase the risk of dementia. The study mainly focused on UK citizens, quoting noise and atmospheric pollution as key factors in the development of dementia. Results suggest that citizens living in proximity to a busy road have 12 percent more chances of being diagnosed with dementia.
The new dementia study is one of the largest ever to be performed, gathering data from over 7 million patients and tracking their health changes over a period of 10 years. This new large-scale study was performed by a team of medical researchers from the University of Toronto, led by Doctor Hong Chen.
The study aimed to analyze the ratio between location, environmental factors, and dementia. Although researchers are nowhere near close to finding a way to cure or to slow down the progression of dementia, the disease can be managed using pharmaceutical compounds and lifestyle changes.
Dementia remains somewhat of a mystery since we have yet to establish whether the disease has a strict genetic component or if outside factors can influence the outcome of the disease. However, the recent study proposed by the Canadian research team seems to suggest that not only environmental factors such as car exhausts and smog can increase the risk of dementia but even the proximity to busy traffic nodes.
After analyzing all the cases, the research team determined that one in ten patients diagnosed with this condition live in proximity to a busy road. Moreover, as the distance increases the odds of developing dementia significantly decreases.
According to the numbers, patients living with 50 meters of a busy road were 7 percent more likely to be diagnosed with this conditions. Subsequently, those living within 100 meters of a busy road had a 4 percent risk.
As for those living between 101 and 200 meters from a busy road, the scientists found out that they have a 2 percent risk of being diagnosed with the aforementioned mental condition. However, the scientists were not able to determine any risk for those living 300 meters from a busy road.
Dr. Chen explained that the risk could go as high as 12 percent for patients who have not changed domicile in 11 years. The results of this new study should help the health authorities devise better and more efficient therapies.
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