Home HEPA Filters Linked to Faster Cognitive Performance in Adults Over 40

In a study published in Scientific Reports, investigators examined whether indoor air cleaning could boost brain performance. The trial involved 119 adults aged 30 to 74 living in Somerville, Massachusetts, an area with high traffic-related particulate pollution. Participants were randomly assigned to use a genuine HEPA air purifier for one month and a look-alike sham unit for another month, with a washout period in between.

Cognitive testing after each phase assessed visual memory, motor speed and executive function. Adults 40 years and older, comprising roughly 42% of the sample, completed the executive-function task 12% faster with the real purifier, a gain comparable to the benefits of regular exercise. The authors note that longer-term use and effects on older age groups remain to be explored.