Air Purifiers Could Boost Your Brain Function, Study Suggests

A crossover study in Somerville, Massachusetts tested 119 adults with a real HEPA purifier versus a sham device.

After one month, adults age 40 and older were about 12% faster on a test of mental flexibility and executive function when using the HEPA purifier.

The results point to a small but significant cognitive benefit from cutting exposure to traffic-related air pollution indoors.

The findings may be especially relevant for people living near busy roads and for older adults at greater risk of cognitive decline.