Particulate air pollution and domain‐specific cognition among Black adults

Abstract INTRODUCTION Long‐term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5 ) may affect cognitive function, yet evidence in diverse cohorts with long‐term exposure averages is lacking. METHODS We analyzed data from 740 adults aged 53 to 94 in the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR). Cognitive performance was assessed in three domains (semantic memory, verbal episodic memory, and executive function) and standardized to Z ‐scores. Using linear regression, we evaluated associations with 5‐, 10‐, and 17‐year average PM 2.5 exposure. Fully adjusted models included age, sex, marital status, education, and neighborhood income. RESULTS Greater long‐term PM 2.5 exposure over 17 years was associated with lower semantic memory ( β = −0.61 SD, 95% confidence interval: [−1.03, −0.19] per 5 µg/m 3 ). Associations were similar but slightly attenuated for 5‐ and 10‐year exposures. No associations were observed with executive function or verbal episodic memory. DISCUSSION Long‐term PM 2.5 exposure may contribute to lower semantic memory in midlife and later‐life Black adults.