Physical activity attenuates negative effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution on cognitive function

Yao Zhang; Limei Ke; Yingyao Fu; Qian Di; Xindong Ma

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.107070

Physical activity attenuates negative effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution on cognitive function

Environ Int. 2022 Feb:160:107070. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107070. Epub 2021 Dec 29.

Authors

Yao Zhang¹, Limei Ke², Yingyao Fu³, Qian Di⁴, Xindong Ma⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: yao-zhan19@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
² School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: klm20@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
³ Division of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: fyy19@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁴ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: qiandi@tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁵ Division of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: maxd@tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 34973588
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107070

Abstract

Background: As physical activity benefits brain health whereas air pollution damages it, the cognitive response to these exposures may interact.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the short-term joint effect of physical activity and air pollution on cognitive function in a panel of healthy young adults.

Methods: We followed ninety healthy subjects aged around 22 years from September 2020 to June 2021 and measured their personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) (μg/m³) and daily accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (min/day) in 4 one-week-long sessions over the study period. At the end of each measurement session, we assessed executive function using Stroop color-word test and collected resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) signals.

Results: We found short-term PM_2.5 exposure damaged executive function (β_PM25 = 0.0064, p = 0.039) but physical activity could counterbalance it (β_MVPA = -0.0047, p = 0.048), whereby beta-3 wave played as a potential mediating role. MVPA-induced improvement on executive function was larger in polluted air (β_MVPA = -0.010, p = 0.035) than that in clean air (β_MVPA = -0.003, p = 0.45). To offset the negative effect of air pollution on cognitive function, individuals should do extra 13.6 min MVPA every day for every 10 μg/m³ increase in daily PM_2.5.

Conclusion: This study implies that physical activity could be used as a preventive approach to compensate the cognitive damages of air pollution.

Keywords: Air pollution; Cognitive function; Joint effects; Physical activity; Short-term exposure.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollutants* / toxicity
Air Pollution* / analysis
Air Pollution* / statistics & numerical data
Cognition* / drug effects
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
Exercise
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / toxicity
Young Adult

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter