A groundbreaking study involving almost 30 million people has shed new light on the hidden threat that air pollution poses to our cognitive well-being. The research, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, reveals a significant link between exposure to outdoor pollutants and an increased risk of dementia.

The study, led by researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, analyzed data from 51 studies, including data from more than 29 million participants. The results are clear: long-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of dementia by up to 17% for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter (PM2.5).

The impact is staggering. Dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease are estimated to affect over 57 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to triple to 152.8 million cases by 2050. The study’s findings suggest that tackling air pollution could be a crucial step in reducing the risk of dementia and its associated burden on individuals, families, and caregivers.

Senior author Dr. Haneen Khreis emphasizes the importance of epidemiological evidence in understanding the link between air pollution and dementia. “Our work provides further evidence to support the observation that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution is a risk factor for the onset of dementia in previously healthy adults.”

The study also highlights the need for urgent action, particularly among marginalized groups who are disproportionately exposed to air pollution. The researchers call for future studies to ensure better representation across ethnicities and low- and middle-income countries and communities.

Joint first author Clare Rogowski stresses that efforts to reduce exposure to key pollutants will likely help reduce the burden of dementia on society. “Stricter limits for several pollutants are likely to be necessary, targeting major contributors such as the transport and industry sectors.”

The research was funded by the European Research Council under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

In conclusion, this study underscores the need for an interdisciplinary approach to dementia prevention. Preventing dementia is not just the responsibility of healthcare; urban planning, transport policy, and environmental regulation all have a significant role to play in mitigating the risks associated with air pollution. The time to act is now.

The article you provided delves into the world of biodegradable plastics, specifically poly(d-lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) or LAHB. Researchers from Japan have successfully demonstrated that this promising eco-friendly plastic can break down in deep-sea conditions, where conventional plastics like polylactide (PLA) persist. The study, led by Professor Seiichi Taguchi and published in the journal Polymer Degradation and Stability, has significant implications for tackling marine plastic waste.

The problem of plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with millions of metric tons of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems each year. Conventional plastics like PLA are known to persist in deep-sea environments, where low temperatures, high pressure, and limited nutrients make breakdown extremely difficult. To address this, researchers have been searching for biodegradable plastics that can reliably break down in such conditions.

LAHB, a lactate-based polyester biosynthesized using engineered Escherichia coli, has shown strong potential as a biodegradable polymer in previous studies. However, its performance under deep-sea conditions remained uncertain until now. The current research team submerged LAHB films alongside PLA for comparison and observed that the former underwent active biodegradation, while the latter persisted unaltered.

The study reveals that different microbial groups play distinct roles in breaking down LAHB. Dominant Gammaproteobacterial genera produce specialized enzymes to break down polymer chains into smaller fragments, which are then further cleaved by other microbes. This collaborative process ultimately converts the plastic into harmless compounds like carbon dioxide and water.

The findings of this study fill a critical gap in our understanding of biodegradable plastics’ degradation in remote marine environments. The proven biodegradability of LAHB makes it a promising option for creating safer, more eco-friendly materials. As Professor Taguchi highlights, this research addresses one of the most critical limitations of current bioplastics – their lack of biodegradability in marine environments.

The significance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated. By providing a pathway for safer alternatives to conventional plastics and supporting the transition to a circular bioeconomy, LAHB’s journey to deep-sea decomposition marks a crucial step towards mitigating the plastic pollution crisis facing our oceans.

The research published in Plants, People, Planet has discovered an innovative way to enhance the nutritional value of bread wheat using a specific type of fungus. Scientists found that by cultivating wheat with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, the grains grew larger and contained higher amounts of phosphorus and zinc compared to those grown without the fungus.

When researchers tested different types of wheat with and without the fungus, they noticed a significant improvement in nutrient content. The phosphorus-rich grain did not result in an increase in phytate, which can hinder digestion of zinc and iron. As a result, bread wheat grown with fungi had higher bioavailability of zinc and iron overall compared to that grown without fungi.

This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture practices by using beneficial soil fungi as a natural means to enhance plant nutrient uptake. According to Dr. Stephanie J. Watts-Williams, corresponding author of the study from the University of Adelaide in Australia, “Beneficial soil fungi could be used as a sustainable option to exploit soil-derived plant nutrients. In this case, we found potential to biofortify wheat with important human micronutrients by inoculating the plants with mycorrhizal fungi.”

Rhizophagus irregularis is a species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus that forms beneficial relationships with many types of plants. It helps these plants absorb more nutrients by extending its thin, root-like structures deep into the soil. This fungus has been widely studied and used in agriculture due to its broad compatibility with crops and ability to improve plant growth, health, and soil quality.

By boosting nutrient uptake naturally, R. irregularis supports more resilient plants and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. As such, it becomes a valuable tool in sustainable farming and reforestation efforts. This research not only opens doors to new possibilities but also highlights the potential for using beneficial fungi as an alternative solution to traditional agricultural practices.