Long-Term PM2.5 Exposure, Lung Function, and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is related to poor lung function and cognitive impairment, but less is known about the pathway involved in this association. We aimed to explore whether the effect of PM2.5 on cognitive function was mediated by lung function.

A total of 7 915 adults older than 45 years old were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected in 2011 and 2015. PM2.5 exposure was estimated using a geographically weighted regression model. Lung function was measured by peak expiratory flow (PEF). Cognitive function was evaluated through a structured questionnaire with 4 dimensions: episodic memory, attention, orientation, and visuoconstruction. Under the counterfactual framework, causal mediation analysis was applied to examine direct and indirect associations.

An interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 change was significantly related to an 8.480 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.116, 13.845) decrease in PEF change and a 0.301 (95% CI: 0.100, 0.575) decrease in global cognitive score change. The direct and indirect effects of PM2.5 exposure on global cognitive performance were -0.279 (95% CI: -0.551, -0.060) and -0.023 (95% CI: -0.041, -0.010), respectively. The proportion of the indirect effect was 7.48% (p = .010). The same significant association appeared in only 2 dimensions, episodic memory and attention, which were both mediated by PEF.

Lung function played a partially mediating role in the association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and cognition. More clean air actions should be undertaken to improve lung function and cognitive function in older adults.