Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

11-1-2025

Journal

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

DOI

10.1177/13872877251375966

PMID

40934099

PMCID

PMC13015184

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-26-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background

To understand the effect of air quality on cognition, air quality measurements should reflect real-world exposure. Currently, air quality exposure is derived from outdoor air quality monitors despite older adults spending most of their time indoors.

Objective

To examine if there are discrepancies between indoor particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) at older adults’ personal residences, PM2.5 levels measured with nearest outdoor public air monitors, and remotely accessed gridded ensemble air quality data.

Methods

PM2.5 levels collected in older adults’ residences, collected from the nearest outdoor public air quality monitors and ensemble data from Hazardous Air Quality Ensemble System (HAQES) were compared using Spearman correlation coefficients and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Daily PM2.5 profiles in these homes were also examined.

Results

Ambient air quality was assessed in 23 residences of older adults from October 2021 to August 2024. Indoor PM2.5 measurement was lower than outdoor public air monitors for all but 3 homes. Estimates of PM2.5 level from HAQES were also significantly higher than those indoors. High inter- and intra-home variability over time was observed. Spikes in daily indoor PM2.5 levels were common, and they could exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)’s recommendation for 24 -hour average. Use of home appliances and indoor activities may contribute to changes in indoor PM2.5 level throughout the day.

Conclusions

To optimally estimate air quality exposure risk, monitoring both indoor and outdoor environments is likely needed.

Keywords

Humans, Aged, Dementia, Particulate Matter, Male, Air Pollution, Indoor, Female, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Monitoring, Aging, Aged, 80 and over, Air Pollution, Air Pollutants, Air quality, Air pollution, indoor, Dementia, Risk factor, Alzheimer’s disease

Published Open-Access

yes

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