Associations between road, rail and aircraft traffic noise with cognitive function in the UK Biobank cohort

Studies on the associations between noise pollution and cognitive function in adults remain few. Here, we examine the cross-sectional associations between traffic noise with cognitive performance in the UK Biobank cohort.

Mid-to-older aged adults recruited during 2006-2010 were included in the analyses for road (N = 499,717), rail (N = 228,079) and aircraft (N = 105,768) noise exposures. Address-level average road noise for 2013 from minor and major roads were modelled using an enhanced CNOSSOS-EU framework; address-level average rail noise estimates for 2011 from major rail corridors were obtained from the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; average aircraft noise estimates at postcode-level for 2011 were modelled using the ANCON model by Civil Authority Aviation for participants residing in one of 44 districts partially or wholly encompassed with weighted 24-hour day-evening-night (L_den) aircraft noise contours. Reaction time, visuospatial memory, verbal-numerical reasoning, and prospective memory were self-administered via touchscreen at baseline. Regression models were used to test associations between each traffic noise (L_den and L_night) and each cognitive domain, allowing for covariates adjustment and correction for multiple testing.

Exposure to higher L_night aircraft (≥55 dB vs. <45 dB), and L_den aircraft (≥60 dB vs. <50 dB) was associated with 133 % (95 %CI: 66 %-229 %) and 48 % (95 %CI:17 %-86 %) higher error rate respectively in the visuospatial memory test; for rail L_night and L_den, the respective figures were 68 % (95 %CI: 29 %-118 %) and 39 % (95 %CI: 10 %-75 %). There were no convincing associations of road traffic noise with visuospatial memory performance. No associations were found of reaction time, verbal-numerical reasoning, or prospective memory with any traffic-source noise.

Higher aircraft and rail traffic noise exposure was associated with poorer visuospatial memory test performance, indicating a potential role in cognitive impairment in adults.