Two Patients, Two Brains: One Striking Clue About Alzheimer's
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by Paula Span
November 12, 2025
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8 min
Two patients at the Penn Memory Center participated in cognitive studies highlighting the impact of air pollution on dementia. An autopsy of an 83-year-old man revealed substantial Alzheimer's pathology, while the 84-year-old woman had minimal cognitive impairment despite having lived in a lower air pollution area. Research indicates chronic exposure to PM2.5—a small particulate pollutant—associates with cognitive decline and dementia, underscoring environmental policies that could affect public health outcomes related to neurodegenerative diseases.
1. Autopsy reveals correlation between PM2.5 exposure and Alzheimer’s disease. 2. The quality of air can significantly affect cognitive health. 3. Chronic exposure to pollutants is linked to higher dementia rates. 4. There's a need for stronger air quality policies. 5. Research includes over 600 brains donated for study. 6. Neuropathology findings highlight severity of dementia. 7. Ongoing studies validate environmental impacts on neurological health.
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