2024 United States Elections: Air Pollution, Neurodegeneration, Neuropsychiatric, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Who Cares?

J Alzheimers Dis. 2024;98(4):1277-1282. doi: 10.3233/JAD-231373.

Abstract

Air pollution exposures ought to be of significant interest for the United States (US) public as health issues will play a role in the 2024 elections. Citizens are not aware of the harmful brain impact of exposures to ubiquitous anthropogenic combustion emissions and friction-derived nanoparticles, industrial nanoplastics, the growing risk of wildfires, and the smoke plumes of soot. Ample consideration of pediatric and early adulthood hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and associations with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders in the process of setting, reviewing, and implementing standards for particulate matter (PM)2.5, ultrafine PM, and industrial nanoparticles must be of interest to US citizens.

Keywords: 2024 US elections; Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; anthropogenic emissions control; frontotemporal lobar degeneration; nanoparticles; particulate air pollution; pediatric neurodegeneration; wildfires.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants* / adverse effects
  • Air Pollution* / adverse effects
  • Air Pollution* / analysis
  • Alzheimer Disease*
  • Humans
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders* / etiology
  • Particulate Matter
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter