Ambient Air Pollution, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia Among Older Patients Being Evaluated for Kidney Transplantation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older patients who are evaluated for kidney transplantation (KT) experience an earlier onset of cognitive impairment due to dialysis, comorbidities, and inactivity. Ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is a modifiable risk factor for dementia among community-dwelling older adults. Inflammatory responses and oxidative stress caused by inactivity in older patients evaluated for KT may heighten vulnerability to PM_2.5. Thus, the impact of PM_2.5 on dementia may be more severe in this population.

Methods

We leveraged a prospective cohort (2009-2019) of older (age ≥ 50) patients evaluated for KT (n = 2073) with Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS). We derived annual PM_2.5 from residential ZIP codes (high: PM_2.5 

SUBMITTER: Hong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12626398 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature