As a global problem that has increasingly been causing worldwide concern, air pollution poses a significant and serious environmental risk to health. Risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as various types of cancer, have been consistently associated with the exposure to air pollutants. More recently, various studies have also shown that the central nervous system is also attacked by air pollution. Air pollution appears to be strongly associated with a higher risk of cognitive defects, neurodevelopmental (e.g., schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) disorders. Subjects with schizophrenia, as well as subjects with Alzheimer’s disease, experience a variety of neuropsychological deficits and cognitive impairments. This determines an adverse effect on social and professional functioning, and it contributes to the long-term disease burden. However, no final conclusions have been drawn on the matter of the direct relationship between schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. In recent years, the topic of urbanicity and mental health has become increasingly important. Urban exposure to environmental toxins and pollution is currently described as a reliable risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychoses, and it has been demonstrated more and more how exposure to air pollutants is associated with increased risk of dementia. Pathways by which air pollution can target and damage the brain, leading to an increased risk for developing schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, are multiple and complex. Results from epidemiological studies suggest potential associations, but are still insufficient to confirm causality. Further studies are needed in order to verify this hypothesis. And if confirmed, the clinical implications could be of substantial relevance for both public and mental health.

中文翻译：

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空气污染是精神疾病的危险因素：寻找与阿尔茨海默氏病和精神分裂症的可能联系。

作为日益引起全球关注的全球性问题，空气污染对健康构成了重大而严重的环境风险。心血管和呼吸系统疾病以及各种癌症的风险一直与暴露于空气污染物有关。最近，各种研究还表明，中枢神经系统也受到空气污染的攻击。空气污染似乎与认知缺陷，神经发育（例如精神分裂症）和神经退行性疾病（例如阿尔茨海默氏病）疾病的较高风险密切相关。精神分裂症患者以及阿尔茨海默氏病患者经历各种神经心理学缺陷和认知障碍。这确定了对社会和专业运作的不利影响，并加重了长期疾病负担。但是，关于精神分裂症和阿尔茨海默氏病之间的直接关系尚无最终结论。近年来，城市化和心理健康这一主题变得越来越重要。当前，城市暴露于环境毒素和污染是精神分裂症和其他精神病的可靠危险因素，并且越来越多地证明了暴露于空气污染物与痴呆症的增加风险之间的关系。空气污染可以靶向并损害大脑，导致罹患精神分裂症和阿尔茨海默氏病的风险增加的途径是多种多样且复杂的。流行病学研究的结果表明存在潜在的关联，但仍不足以证实因果关系。为了验证该假设，需要进一步的研究。如果得到证实，其临床意义可能与公共和精神健康都息息相关。