The Main Culprit Damaging the Brain, Fine Dust ... First Confirmed by MRI

Seoul National University Hospital, Boramae Hospital, and National Cancer Center Research Team Analysis
"20% Increase in Risk of Asymptomatic Cerebral Infarction per 10㎍/㎥ Rise in Fine Dust"

On the 10th, when an ultrafine dust advisory was issued in the Seoul metropolitan area, the city center viewed from Jongno-gu, Seoul was shrouded in fine dust. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] It has been confirmed for the first time through MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) analysis that increased exposure to fine dust damages the brain and raises the risk of asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease.

A joint research team from Seoul National University Hospital (Family Medicine Professor Park Jin-ho, Neurology Professor Jeong Han-young), Boramae Hospital (Neurology Professor Kwon Hyung-min), and the National Cancer Center (Professor Kim Hyun-jin) announced on the 24th that the harmful effects of fine dust have been confirmed.

The research team analyzed brain MRI images of 3,257 adults (average age 56.5 years) who underwent health checkups. They estimated the annual exposure to fine dust based on the average annual concentration of fine dust in the participants' residential areas and analyzed the association between the one-year exposure difference and lesions such as △white matter hyperintensities (WMH) △asymptomatic (lacunar) cerebral infarction △cerebral microbleeds. During the investigation period, the average fine dust concentration across all regions was 49.1㎍/㎥.

White matter in the brain refers to the areas that appear white beside the brain's center on MRI images, and white matter hyperintensities indicate damage to the small blood vessels spread throughout this white matter. Asymptomatic cerebral infarction refers to a condition caused by blockage of small blood vessels in the brain.

Although these conditions appear as asymptomatic lesions on MRI, they can progressively lead to abnormal brain aging and result in serious diseases such as stroke or dementia.

The research team estimated that for every 10㎍/㎥ increase in fine dust concentration, the area of white matter hyperintensities increases by about 8%. Under the same conditions, the risk of asymptomatic cerebral infarction was evaluated to increase by approximately 20%.

However, other air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide showed no clear association with these lesions, excluding fine dust.

The research team suggested that nanoparticles contained in fine dust may pass through the alveolar barrier in the lungs or directly affect blood cells, activating inflammatory responses, which in turn could affect the small vascular structures in the brain. Professor Park Jin-ho emphasized, "Since it has been proven through large-scale population brain MRI image analysis that fine dust increases the risk of small vessel disease in the brain, it has become even more important to maintain lifestyle habits that minimize exposure to fine dust. The government should also continuously review various measures to reduce fine dust."

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published in the latest issue of the international academic journal Scientific Reports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.