Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential link between toxic air levels and women over 70 developing dementia.

Air pollution has been identified as a risk factor for dementia in those aged 65 years old and over. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants is currently evaluating the evidence for this risk. The UK Health Security Agency has contributed to a review of the epidemiological evidence of effects of air pollution on cognitive disorders in the adult population. This concluded that air pollution can contribute to cognitive decline and dementia in older people. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is contributing to the development of the new dementia strategy which will include a focus on prevention and risk reduction.