Associations between residential segregation, ambient air pollution, and hippocampal features in recent trauma survivors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Residential segregation is associated with differential exposure to air pollution. Hippocampus structure and function are highly susceptible to pollutants and associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development. Therefore, we investigated associations between residential segregation, air pollutants, hippocampal neurobiology, and PTSD in recent trauma survivors.

Methods

Participants (N = 278; 34% non-Hispanic white, 46% Non-Hispanic Black, 16% Hispanic) completed multimodal neuroimaging two weeks after trauma. Yearly averages of air pollutants (PM_2.5 and NO₂) and racial/economic segregation (Index of Concentration at the Extremes) were derived from each participant's address. Linear models assessed if air pollutants mediate

SUBMITTER: Liang SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11875236 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature