The Use of Standardized Diesel Exhaust Particles in Alzheimer’s Disease Research

The mechanisms underlying how urban air pollution exposure conveys Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk and affects plaque pathology is largely unknown.  Because particulate matter, the particle component of urban air pollution, varies across location, pollution source, and time, a single model representative of all ambient particulate matter is unfeasible for research investigating the role of ar pollution in central nervous system diseases.  More specifically, the investigation of several models of particulate matter with enrichment of source-specific components are essential to employ, in order to more fully understand what characteristics of particulate matter affects AD, including Standardized Diesel Exhaust Particles. 

Impact/Purpose

Due to these influencing factors, the composition of real-world ambient particulate matter (PM) is highly variable in a temporal and spatial manner, and therefore, no one model ambient PM composition is full representative of what people are exposed to. As such, correctly researching how this complex mixture, with pulmonary, peripheral, and central nervous system effects influences Alzheimer’s disease relies heavily on model particles which reflect more limited, but targeted environmentally relevant exposures, such as diesel exhaust particles. 

Citation

Block, M. AND U. Kodavanti. The Use of Standardized Diesel Exhaust Particles in Alzheimer’s Disease Research. IOS Press, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 84(2):607-608, (2021). [DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215201]

DOI: The Use of Standardized Diesel Exhaust Particles in Alzheimer’s Disease Research