Higher air pollution exposure linked to motor neurone disease

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-01-21 03:00

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Long-term exposure to air pollution could increase the risk of developing motor neurone disease (MND), according to Swedish research. The team matched 1463 MND patients with 1768 of their siblings and 7310 members of the general population with similar demographics, and investigated their exposure to particulate matter air pollution and nitrogen dioxide over time. The researchers say long-term exposure to the pollutants they studied was linked to increased relative risks of MND ranging from 20-30% depending on the pollutant. Higher pollution exposure was also linked to faster disease progression and higher death risks among the MND patients, the researchers say. They say their research supports the theory that air pollution could be a driver of the condition, even in places like Sweden where air pollution exposure is relatively low.