Kim Do-geun, principal researcher of the dementia research group at the Korea Brain Research Institute, along with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and a joint team from the Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), said on the 6th that they had identified the neurotoxic mechanism by which fine particulate matter (PM2.5) impairs cerebrovascular function and negatively affects brain health.
Fine particulate matter has been known as a risk factor for lung and cardiovascular diseases, but its specific effects on the brain and the pathways involved have remained veiled. The research team focused on cerebrovascular endothelial cells, which are essential for maintaining the brain environment, to analyze its impact.
The study found that fine particulate matter activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in cerebrovascular endothelial cells and reduces the function of mitochondria, the cell's energy factories. As a result, the cells' energy production capacity declines, weakening vascular regulation and, consequently, reducing the amount of blood flow supplied to the brain.
Abnormalities were also observed in the interactions between blood vessels in the brain and surrounding cells such as astrocytes. These changes disrupt the systems responsible for removing waste and managing substance exchange in the brain, suggesting that brain homeostasis could be undermined.
The effects of fine particulate matter were particularly pronounced in the hippocampus, the core region for memory and learning. Because the hippocampus is closely linked to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, the findings provide scientific grounds that environmental factors like air pollution can be connected to long-term changes in brain function.
Kim Do-geun said, "This study shows that fine particulate matter can also affect the functions that maintain the brain environment," adding, "We will continue to contribute to protecting public brain health."
The findings were published in the international journal "Journal of Hazardous Materials" on Feb. 15 (local time).
References
Journal of Hazardous Materials (2026), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141275