Journal article
Air pollution and cognitive performance in late life: the role of lipid profile – results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Environment international, v 203, 109730
Sep 2025
PMID: 40840146
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
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•First study to identify the role of blood lipids in the relationship of air pollutant exposure and cognitive performance using the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).•1518 adults aged 65 and above who participated in MESA Exams 1–6 (2000–2018).•TC and LDL-C were not mediators in the air pollutant-cognition relationship.•TC and LDL-C were not clinically meaningful modifiers in the air pollutant-cognition relationship.
Evidence on blood lipids in the air pollutant-cognition relationship is scarce. In this study, we identified the role of blood lipids in the air pollutant-cognition relationship in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.
The study sample consisted of 1,518 adults who participated in MESA Exams 1–6 (2000–2018). Outcome were three composite scores of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) test, the Digit Symbol Coding test (DSC), and the Digit Span (DS) test at Exam 6. Outdoor residential concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, and NOx between Exams 1 and 5 were assessed using validated spatiotemporal models. Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in blood at Exam 5 were evaluated as mediators or modifiers using linear regression models. Models assessed gender and race/ethnicity related heterogeneity in air pollutant-cognition and blood lipid-cognition associations.
The direct effect of NO2 and NOx on DSC scores was significant (ß = −2.64 95 % CI −4.87 to −0.40 for NO2; ß = −3.01 95 % CI −5.20 to −0.83 for NOx, per interquartile range increase), but there was no evidence of mediation by cholesterol levels. The association of CASI scores with NO2 and NOx was modified by LDL-C (β = 0.03 for NO2, p = 0.01; β = 0.02, p = 0.03 for NOx). Associations of cognitive performance with air pollutant exposure and blood lipids did not vary by gender or racial identity.
TC and LDL-C were not mediators or clinically meaningful modifiers in the air pollutant-cognition relationship.
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Details
- Title
- Air pollution and cognitive performance in late life: the role of lipid profile – results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
- Creators
- Xi Pan - Department of Sociology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos 78666-4684 TX, USARobyn L. McClelland - University of WashingtonLilah M. Besser - University of MiamiJana A. Hirsch - Urban Health Collaborative, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAJoel D. Kaufman - University of WashingtonJing Cao - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterTimothy M. Hughes - Wake Forest University
- Publication Details
- Environment international, v 203, 109730
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: 75N92025D00022, 75N92020D00001, HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, 75N92025D 00026,, 75N92020D00005 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, UL1-TR001420 U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): RD831697, RD-83830001 A National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: N01-HC-95160, 75N92020D00002, N01-HC95161, 75N92025D00024, 75N92020D00003, N01-HC-95162, 75N920 25D00027, 75N92020D00006, N01-HC-95163, 75N92025D00025, 75N92020D00004, N01-HC-95164 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: 75N92025D00028, 75N92020 D00007, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC95168, N01-HC-95169
This research was supported by contracts 75N92025D00022, 75N92020D00001, HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, 75N92025D 00026,75N92020D00005, N01-HC-95160, 75N92020D00002, N01-HC95161, 75N92025D00024, 75N92020D00003, N01-HC-95162, 75N920 25D00027, 75N92020D00006, N01-HC-95163, 75N92025D00025, 75N92020D00004, N01-HC-95164, 75N92025D00028, 75N92020 D00007, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC95168 and N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and by grants UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, and UL1-TR001420 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The authors thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the MESA study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating MESA investigators and institutions can be found at http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org.This paper has been reviewed and approved by the MESA Publications and Presentations Committee. This publication was developed under the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research assistance agreements, No. RD831697 (MESA Air) and RD-83830001 (MESA Air Next Stage), awarded by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It has not been formally reviewed by the EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and the EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001658200900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105013558236
- Other Identifier
- 991022083940604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences