The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults
Abstract Background Genetic susceptibility to mental health and cognitive traits, as well as air pollution, significantly impact cognition. The interplay between polygenic liability and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains unclear due to the limited number of large-scale studies in Asia. This stu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00559-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849734775974133760 |
|---|---|
| author | Shu-Fen Liao Ta-Chien Chan Mei-Hsin Su Mei-Chen Lin Chi-Shin Wu Chun-Chieh Fan Shi-Heng Wang |
| author_facet | Shu-Fen Liao Ta-Chien Chan Mei-Hsin Su Mei-Chen Lin Chi-Shin Wu Chun-Chieh Fan Shi-Heng Wang |
| author_sort | Shu-Fen Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Genetic susceptibility to mental health and cognitive traits, as well as air pollution, significantly impact cognition. The interplay between polygenic liability and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains unclear due to the limited number of large-scale studies in Asia. This study utilized the Taiwan Biobank, a nationwide community-based database, to investigate the main and modified effect of PM2.5 on individuals’ polygenic susceptibility in cognition. Methods Polygenic risk score (PRS) for cognitive performance (CP PRS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD PRS), schizophrenia (SCZ PRS), and major depression (MDD PRS) were computed representing genetic susceptibility for an individual. APOE genotype was classified into E3/E3, E3/E4, and E4/E4. The five-year average concentration of PM2.5 from satellite images was used for defining environmental exposure. Cognitive performance was evaluated via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The association between personal genetic susceptibility, PM2.5, and cognitive performance was examined using multilevel linear regression with the adjustment of age, sex, batch effect, and population stratification effect. The gene-environment synergism was examined with the inclusion of product term of PM2.5 and PRS in the multivariate model. Results Our analyses included 25,593 participants from 164 townships. Participants exposed to higher PM2.5 concentrations had a lower MMSE score (Beta=-0.0830 corresponding to a 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration, 95% CI, -0.0973 to -0.0688, p-value < 0.0001). After controlling for PM2.5 concentration, CP PRS (Beta = 0.1729, 95% CI, 0.1470 to 0.1988, p-value < 0.0001), SCZ PRS (Beta=-0.0632, 95% CI, -0.0891 to -0.0374, p-value < 0.0001), and AD PRS (Beta=-0.0321, 95% CI, -0.0580 to -0.0062, p-value = 0.0153) were associated with MMSE score. After further examination of gene-environment synergism, no interaction effect was identified, indicating different mechanism of PM2.5 and genetic liability to influence cognitive performance. Conclusions Human polygenic loading and PM2.5 may impact cognition via an independent pathway. A prevention strategy targeting air pollution reduction may effectively improve the cognitive performance. Multiple exposures and their influences on the long-term change of cognition were required in future research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e26bc75ff859452a9f6d2f046957a992 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1744-859X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-e26bc75ff859452a9f6d2f046957a9922025-08-20T03:07:43ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2025-04-0124111010.1186/s12991-025-00559-9The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adultsShu-Fen Liao0Ta-Chien Chan1Mei-Hsin Su2Mei-Chen Lin3Chi-Shin Wu4Chun-Chieh Fan5Shi-Heng Wang6Department of Medical Research, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityResearch Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia SinicaDepartment of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical UniversityNational Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research InstitutesNational Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research InstitutesCenter for Population Neuroscience and Genetics, Laureate Institute for Brain ResearchNational Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research InstitutesAbstract Background Genetic susceptibility to mental health and cognitive traits, as well as air pollution, significantly impact cognition. The interplay between polygenic liability and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains unclear due to the limited number of large-scale studies in Asia. This study utilized the Taiwan Biobank, a nationwide community-based database, to investigate the main and modified effect of PM2.5 on individuals’ polygenic susceptibility in cognition. Methods Polygenic risk score (PRS) for cognitive performance (CP PRS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD PRS), schizophrenia (SCZ PRS), and major depression (MDD PRS) were computed representing genetic susceptibility for an individual. APOE genotype was classified into E3/E3, E3/E4, and E4/E4. The five-year average concentration of PM2.5 from satellite images was used for defining environmental exposure. Cognitive performance was evaluated via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The association between personal genetic susceptibility, PM2.5, and cognitive performance was examined using multilevel linear regression with the adjustment of age, sex, batch effect, and population stratification effect. The gene-environment synergism was examined with the inclusion of product term of PM2.5 and PRS in the multivariate model. Results Our analyses included 25,593 participants from 164 townships. Participants exposed to higher PM2.5 concentrations had a lower MMSE score (Beta=-0.0830 corresponding to a 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration, 95% CI, -0.0973 to -0.0688, p-value < 0.0001). After controlling for PM2.5 concentration, CP PRS (Beta = 0.1729, 95% CI, 0.1470 to 0.1988, p-value < 0.0001), SCZ PRS (Beta=-0.0632, 95% CI, -0.0891 to -0.0374, p-value < 0.0001), and AD PRS (Beta=-0.0321, 95% CI, -0.0580 to -0.0062, p-value = 0.0153) were associated with MMSE score. After further examination of gene-environment synergism, no interaction effect was identified, indicating different mechanism of PM2.5 and genetic liability to influence cognitive performance. Conclusions Human polygenic loading and PM2.5 may impact cognition via an independent pathway. A prevention strategy targeting air pollution reduction may effectively improve the cognitive performance. Multiple exposures and their influences on the long-term change of cognition were required in future research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00559-9Air pollutionAlzheimer’s diseaseMajor depressionPM2.5Polygenic risk scoreSchizophrenia |
| spellingShingle | Shu-Fen Liao Ta-Chien Chan Mei-Hsin Su Mei-Chen Lin Chi-Shin Wu Chun-Chieh Fan Shi-Heng Wang The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults Annals of General Psychiatry Air pollution Alzheimer’s disease Major depression PM2.5 Polygenic risk score Schizophrenia |
| title | The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| title_full | The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| title_fullStr | The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| title_short | The independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| title_sort | independent role of fine particulate matter and genetic liability on cognition in older adults |
| topic | Air pollution Alzheimer’s disease Major depression PM2.5 Polygenic risk score Schizophrenia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00559-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shufenliao theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT tachienchan theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT meihsinsu theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT meichenlin theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT chishinwu theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT chunchiehfan theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT shihengwang theindependentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT shufenliao independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT tachienchan independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT meihsinsu independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT meichenlin independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT chishinwu independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT chunchiehfan independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults AT shihengwang independentroleoffineparticulatematterandgeneticliabilityoncognitioninolderadults |