Air pollution, APOE genotype and risk of dementia among individuals with cardiovascular diseases: A population-based longitudinal study

Abstract

Individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are particularly vulnerable to dementia, but it remains unclear whether air pollution exposure links with higher risk of dementia among those with CVD. The data were derived from the UK Biobank study (UKB). Dementia-free participants with CVD at baseline were included. Air pollution exposure was assessed through land use regression models, including particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM_2.5-10, and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NO_X). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the associations between air pollution exposure and incident dementia among individuals with CVD. Air pollution was associated with dementia among individuals with CVD, and the hazard ratios of dementia associated with each interquartile range (IQR) μg/m³ increase in air pollution were 1.07 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.12) for PM_2.5, 1.10 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.15) for PM₁₀, 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.14) for NO₂ and 1.05 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.09) for NO_x. Associations between air pollution and all-cause dementia were found to be significant among individuals with hypertension. Adverse effects of air pollution were also observed for Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), with a higher effect for AD. Observed associations remained similar in subgroups of APOE ε4 carriers and noncarriers, although there was a higher risk difference across different air pollution concentration among these individuals carrying APOE ε4. Air pollution emerges as a critical risk factor for dementia among individuals with CVD, regardless of genetic susceptibility indicated by the APOE genotype. Notably, individuals with hypertension might be susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution, leading to a higher incidence of dementia. Understanding these impacts on dementia among individuals with CVD may promote better targeted prevention and clinical management strategies.

Keywords: Air pollution; Apolipoprotein E; Cardiovascular disease; Dementia; UK biobank.