Lower air pollution may help preserve older people’s independence – study

Traffic in Los Angeles. Exposure to traffic-related pollution may be particularly important for health as we age, the researchers said. Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP

Reducing air pollution may help elderly people to live independent lives for longer, research has found.

Dr Boya Zhang, of the University of Michigan, who is one of the authors of the study, said: “Air pollution is linked to worse health – more lung disease, more heart disease, shorter life expectancies and more likelihood of dementia. Knowing that air pollution increases our risk of poor health as we age made us wonder if exposures might also impact how people can care for themselves in later life.”