HEPA purifiers improve executive function 12% in adults over 40, study finds
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Adults aged 40 and older completed a mental flexibility test 12% faster after one month using a HEPA air purifier, according to a study in Scientific Reports. The randomized trial involved 119 residents of Somerville, Massachusetts, an area with high traffic-related air pollution. The improvement was comparable to cognitive benefits from increased daily exercise.
Key Facts
- The study analyzed data from 119 people aged 30 to 74 living in Somerville, Massachusetts, near two major highways.
- Participants 40 years and older completed the executive function and mental flexibility test 12% faster after using a HEPA purifier compared to a sham purifier.
- The improvement was similar to cognitive benefits from increasing daily exercise, according to the researchers.
- The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Study Design
Researchers randomly assigned 119 participants aged 30 to 74 to use either a HEPA air purifier or a sham purifier for one month, followed by a month-long break and then the other device for one month. The sham purifier looked and acted like the real one but lacked the air-cleaning filter. After each month, participants completed tests measuring visual memory, motor speed, executive function, and mental flexibility. Somerville, Massachusetts, sits along Interstate 93 and Route 28, resulting in relatively high traffic-related air pollution.
Cognitive Findings
Participants aged 40 and older—about 42% of the sample—completed the mental flexibility and executive function section 12% faster after using the HEPA purifier than after using the sham purifier. The result held even after accounting for time spent indoors with each filter and test-related stress. The 12% improvement is comparable to cognitive benefits from increased daily exercise, the researchers noted. Air pollution can negatively affect mental function after just a few hours of exposure, and studies show air purifiers reduce particulates, but evidence on preventing cognitive harm from ongoing pollution sources like traffic has been lacking.
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HEPA purifiers improve executive function 12% in adults over 40, study finds
