Long-term Exposure To PM_2.5,NO₂,O₃ And Chinese Cognitive Function Scores

Objective:To evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to PM_2.5,NO₂ and O₃ on cognitive function scores;To explore the population susceptibility factors affecting cognitive function score caused by long-term exposure to PM_2.5,NO₂ and O₃;New evidence of the impact of long-term exposure to PM_2.5,NO₂and O₃ on cognitive function scores under moderate-to-severe pollution scenarios.Methods:Based on the Chinese Prospective Cohort study on Health and Retirement（CHARLS）,longitudinal data were generated using baseline and three follow-up visits,and the unique identifiers of the baseline population were used as a link.Cognitive function and other related information were determined by the respondents themselves or their family members in face-to-face interviews.The air pollutant component exposure concentration was estimated using a grid data product developed by the atmospheric composition analysis group at the university of Washington for China with a resolution of 1km.The spatio-temporal exposure of the air pollutant component was matched according to the baseline residence of the respondents.The linear mixed effect model was used to quantitatively evaluate the epidemiological association between long-term exposure to PM_2.5,NO₂,O₃ and residents’cognitive function scores.In addition,a rich subgroup analysis was performed to identify potential modification effects.Results:In fully adjusted model 3,PM_2.5 and NO₂ had the most significant effect on cognitive function score under Q4 exposure（β=-1.232,95%CI:-1.591--0.876）and（β=-0.399,95%CI:-0.715--0.083）.O3 exposured at the second percentile（Q2）had the most significant effect on cognitive function score（β=-0.362,95%CI:-0.605--0.119）.The results of subgroup analysis showd that the cognitive decline of women seemed to be more significant with each increase of IQR of PM_2.5（β=-0.247,95%CI:-0.322--0.172）.However,with each IQR increase in NO₂ exposure concentration,male cognitive decline seemed to be more significant（β=-0.272,95%CI:-0.414--0.129）.Participants who lived in the north and southeast have less cognitive decline than those from the Midwest;The decline in cognitive scores was more pronounced in people younger than 60 years of age,who slept six to eight hours,and who had never smoked or consumed alcohol.It should be noted that no statistically significant effect of O₃ exposure on cognitive function score was observed in other subgroups except that the southeast showed a significantly decreased effect compared with the Midwest（β=-0.182,95%CI:-0.487--0.122）.Conclusions:Long-term exposure to PM_2.5,NO₂and O₃ results in a decrease in Chinese cognitive function scores.There is a linear correlation between the first two and Chinese cognitive function scores,and this correlation has potential regional differences.Women,those younger than 60 years of age,those who slept 6 to 8 hours,those who were depressed,and those who had never smoked or drunk alcohol were more likely to see a decline in cognitive function scores due to PM_2.5 and NO₂ exposure.