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Andy’s Quick Hits (101): The Air You Breathe and Your Brain Health
We are often encouraged to take a deep breath to oxygenate our brain — not bad advice. But it also shows how clearly our brain and your breath are related.
Though we may like to think about oxygenating our brain it is probably not the real issue — the real issue is avoiding putting toxins into our brain and there have been a number of studies released this year that show just why this is really important. Particularly if you live in a city!
The toxins we breathe in!
An impressive study I reported on here into office workers showed that increased fine particle matter (micro particles from pollution, PM2.5) and CO2 levels (through lack of ventilation) both had negative impacts on cognition and productivity. This was a particularly well-designed study tracking air quality indoors over time in different countries.
The take away is that ventilation (and fresh air) are very important but that fine particle matter is particularly detrimental.
Another recent study has shown that exposure to pollution in childhood has detrimental effects later in life with detrimental effects measurable up to 60 years later. Yes, you did read that correctly, 60 year later. Or simply put exposure to pollution in childhood will reduce your…
