The impact of the climate crisis on brain health

Long-term exposure to air pollution is harmful to human health, causing damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems. A new study provides evidence that even short-term, relatively low-level air pollution can be detrimental for cognitive function, and suggests the possibility that a commonly used drug might help reduce the harmful effects.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide. However, as ‘non-essential’ industries ground to a halt, flights were cancelled and many people stayed at home, this provided a rare glimpse into the benefits of a reduction in pollution-generating human activities. The air got a little bit cleaner. Satellite data showed that there was a reduction in air pollution measured from air quality stations across 34…

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