Study Pairs Key Air Pollutants with Home Addresses to Track Progression of Lost Mobility Through Disability

A decade-long University of Michigan study linking air pollution data to nearly 30,000 older adults’ home addresses points to a troubling connection between long-term exposure to common pollutants and disability in later life. Led by Michigan Public Health professor Sara Adar, the research identifies air pollution as a modifiable factor in how well Americans age and raises urgent questions about how cleaner air could help protect independence later in life.