Air Pollution and the Progression of Physical Function Limitations and Disability in Aging Adults

Is long-term exposure to air pollution associated with the dynamic physical disability process?In this cohort study of 29 790 adults older than 50 years who were followed up for nearly 20 years, higher concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM), PM with a diameter between 2.5 and 10 µm (PM), and nitrogen dioxide (NO) were associated with a higher risk of transitioning to more severe states of physical disability, and a higher concentration of PM was associated with a lower likelihood of reverting from physical function limitation to healthy physical function. Unexpectedly, higher concentrations of ozone (O) were associated with a lower risk of disability development and progression.These findings suggest that reducing air pollution levels may help to delay and mitigate physical disability in aging adults.

Corresponding Author: Sara D. Adar, ScD, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (sadar@umich.edu).

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