According to new study it is found that the polluted air can affect brain and can potentially lead to cognitive loss.

It is also found that polluted air if inhaled can decrease the size of the brain, and people who are constantly exposed to polluted air are at a high risk of strokes or dementia.

The study is performed by researchers of Boston University School of Medicine and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The study revealed that middle age to older age people are most affected from polluted air.

For the study, researchers had 943 participants, who were all 60 years of age. Initially all the participants were reviewed and regarded as healthy, as they were free from any incidence of stroke or dementia in the past.

The participants lived in New York, Boston and New England where pollution is not significant. The brain functions of all the participants were recorded through MRI. The images were studied in relation to the level of pollution in the area where the participants lived.

The findings revealed that with an increase of 2.5 micrograms of fine particles pollution for every cubic meter, the brain volumes were smaller by 0.32 percent.

The sources of pollution are many, but the main factor contributing to it is car exhaust.

According to Dr.Sudha Seshadri, a representative from the Boston University of Medicine and Professor of Neurology, people who are living in highly polluted areas have smaller volume of brain when compared to the people of similar age, the main reason for this is polluted air inhaled by the person.

The study revealed a link between high pollution and strokes, high pollution risks the person for a silent stroke by 46 percent. Many people are aware about the link, but in future it can also lead to severs strokes.

Silent strokes are small and no discomfort can be felt by the person, but it can detected by MRI.