Air pollution damages young brains

Air pollution damages young brains

From Science in 5 by WHO - World Health Organization

July 2, 2025 · 6 min · Season 1 · Episode 141

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of air pollution on brain health and the efforts of various cities to improve air quality.

Did you know that the air you breathe can harm your brain, and increase your risk for dementia, anxiety and depression ? Nine out of 10 people around the world breathe air that does not meet WHO's recommended air quality standards. Air pollution kills 7 million people every year. What are cities like London, Bogotá and Beijing doing to clean their air? Dr Maria Neira explains in Science in 5.

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Maria Neira

Topics covered

  • air pollution
  • brain health
  • dementia
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • urban air quality

Keywords

  • air pollution
  • brain damage
  • dementia
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • WHO
  • air quality standards

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WHO - World Health Organization

Places: London, Bogotá, Beijing

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