Tao Hongmiao, Chen Guozhong, Wu Lin, Lou Hongqiang
School of Medicine, Jinhua University of Vocational Technology, No.888 Haitang West Road, Jinhua, 321017, China.
School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Apr 30;25(1):1591. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22863-5.
Air pollutants and outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) are known health risks, with established effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. However, their impact on cognitive function, particularly neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, remains poorly understood.
Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), including 44,689 participants, memory impairment (Memrye) was defined by self-reported memory-related diseases. Cox regression models were applied to assess the relationship between pollutants, ALAN exposure, and Memrye. Interaction analyses evaluated the combined effects using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (S). Biomarker analyses and stepwise causal mediation examined the underlying mechanisms.
Air pollutants and ALAN were significantly associated with Memrye (p < 0.05), with hazard ratios (HR) ranging from 1.010 to 1.343. Synergistic effects were observed, such as for PM2.5 and ALAN, with RERI, AP, and S values of 0.65 (0.33, 0.97), 0.30 (0.26, 0.34), and 1.43 (1.21, 1.65), respectively. Biomarker analyses showed significant correlations between pollutants, glucose, cholesterol, and uric acid, while ALAN was negatively associated with glucose and uric acid. Mediation analyses indicated that PM, NO, and ALAN indirectly affected Memrye through biomarkers, accounting for 1.07-8.28% of the total effects.
Air pollution and ALAN exposure are linked to memory impairment, with combined effects potentially amplifying risk. Biomarkers play a key role in mediating these effects, suggesting a need for targeted public health measures to mitigate these environmental health risks.
空气污染物和夜间户外人造光（ALAN）是已知的健康风险因素，对呼吸和心血管健康有明确影响。然而，它们对认知功能，尤其是对像阿尔茨海默病这样的神经退行性疾病的影响，仍知之甚少。
利用来自中国健康与养老追踪调查（CHARLS）和中国家庭追踪调查（CFPS）的数据，共44689名参与者，通过自我报告的与记忆相关疾病来定义记忆障碍（Memrye）。应用Cox回归模型评估污染物、ALAN暴露与Memrye之间的关系。交互分析使用交互作用所致相对超额危险度（RERI）、归因比例（AP）和协同指数（S）来评估联合效应。生物标志物分析和逐步因果中介分析探究潜在机制。
空气污染物和ALAN与Memrye显著相关（p < 0.05），危险比（HR）范围为1.010至1.343。观察到协同效应，如PM2.5和ALAN的协同效应，RERI、AP和S值分别为0.65（0.33，0.97）、0.30（0.26，0.34）和1.43（1.21，1.65）。生物标志物分析显示污染物、葡萄糖、胆固醇和尿酸之间存在显著相关性，而ALAN与葡萄糖和尿酸呈负相关。中介分析表明，PM、NO和ALAN通过生物标志物间接影响Memrye，占总效应的1.07 - 8.28%。
空气污染和ALAN暴露与记忆障碍有关，联合效应可能会增加风险。生物标志物在介导这些效应中起关键作用，这表明需要采取有针对性的公共卫生措施来减轻这些环境健康风险。
