Air pollution causes basic reduction in intelligence

The Chinese study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, took place over four years and analysed verbal and arithmetic tests taken by 20,000 people of all ages. The results indicate prolonged exposure to poor air appears to cause a degradation of cognition which worsens with advancing age.

Pollution also increases the risk of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, the study suggests.