Cognitive Aging and Environmental Chemical Burden
Dementia affects over 55 million people globally, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for 60–70% of cases. Modifiable environmental risk factors including chemical exposures are receiving increasing attention as dementia prevention targets.
PFAS and Neuroinflammatory Aging
PFAS accumulate in brain tissue over decades of exposure, promoting microglial activation and chronic neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation accelerates amyloid plaque formation and tau neurofibrillary tangle accumulation—the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s pathology.
Epidemiological Findings
Longitudinal studies of older adults show faster cognitive decline trajectories in individuals with higher baseline PFAS serum levels. Specific domains including episodic memory and executive function show the strongest PFAS associations in aging cohorts.
Prevention Strategies
PFAS exposure reduction in midlife may represent a modifiable dementia prevention target. Neurologists and geriatricians should include environmental chemical exposure assessment in comprehensive dementia risk counseling alongside diet, exercise, and cardiovascular risk management.