Scientists Say This Common Home Appliance Could Quietly Boost Brain Power By 12% In Adults Over 40

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The appliances in our homes often bring promises of saved time and a better, more convenient life. Instant Pots and air fryers make mealtimes quicker and easier, and dishwashers help with cleaning up after dinner. But scientists now say that in addition to helping control dust and other allergens, and even bad smells in some limited cases, HEPA air purifiers could help improve the cognitive abilities of people over 40 by removing potentially harmful particles from the air.

Particulate matter is a type of pollutant consisting of tiny airborne particles of different sizes. A true HEPA air purifier is certified to remove 99.97% of particulate matter in the air. Research has found an association between exposure to particulate matter and a range of health problems like cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Other studies found that particulate matter from highway traffic was associated with cognitive issues like decreased ability to multitask. In fact, air pollution can actually hinder mental function with as little as a few hours of exposure. The reason for this is unclear, though exposure to particulate matter could decrease the amount of tissue in the brain that enables connections between brain regions.

Research has found that HEPA air purifiers can dramatically reduce exposure to particulate matter indoors. To understand how that might effect cognitive function, researchers conducted a study on 119 people aged 30 to 74 living within about 650 feet of a highway. The researchers excluded participants who had a history of cardiovascular disease, used blood pressure medication, smoked or vaped, or allowed smoking or vaping in their home.

To measure the effects of HEPA air purifiers, the participants had either a real purifier or an imitation device that looked and sounded identical placed in their homes. After one month, the participants spent another month without a purifier. Next the participants who had a real HEPA purifier spent a month with an imitation purifier and vice versa. Air monitoring showed that the HEPA purifiers significantly reduced concentration of different types of particulate matter.

After each month the researchers had participants take cognitive tests to measure visual memory, executive function, and mental flexibility. In those tests, participants would carry out tasks like drawing lines between sequential numbers or between alternating numbers and letters. The researchers found that participants 40 years old and older who used a real HEPA air purifier in their homes completed mental flexibility and executive function tasks 12% faster. On the other hand, participants younger than 40 showed no significant changes in completion time.

The brain boosting effects seen in this study are similar to the cognitive improvements resulting from increased physical activity. While the improvements are relatively modest, even small improvements in brain function can lead to better health and quality of life. The researchers noted that further investigation is needed to see how much older adults would benefit and whether longer use of a HEPA air purifier might bring more benefits.

Air purifiers vary in cost and the size of room they can handle. It may also help to look for a true HEPA purifier and not one described as HEPA-type or HEPA-like. True HEPA purifiers are certified to remove particulate matter so you can be sure of their efficacy. This Fulminare air purifier can cover a room of up to 215 square feet and costs less than $30. At the larger end of the scale, this larger purifier by Smart Air can clean more than 2,000 square feet of space and comes in at under $300.

Removing particulate matter from indoor air may help improve respiratory health and could even help lower blood pressure. And now scientists have shown that this home appliance could even help boost brain power in adults over 40.