Noise: Cognitive

Overview on health risk associate with road traffic, railway, and aircraft noise

Mental illness

Depression

OR 1.23, 1.19-1.28 at 50-55dB(A)c 4% (OR 1.04, 1.03-1.11 per 10dB(A) increase in Lden)a OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.25 for LpAeq,24h ≥ 70 dBc OR 1.15, 1.08-1.22 at 60-65 dB(A)c

Anxiety

12% (effect size 1.12, 1.02-1.23 per 10dB(A)) increase in Ldenb 12% (OR 1.12, 1.04-1.30 per 10dB(A))

Annoyance

RR 1.19, 0.93-1.53d RR 1.06, 0.93-1.22d

Suicide and night noise exposure

Younger adults (HR 1.32, 1.02-1.70)⁶ Older adults (HR 1.43, 1.01-2.02)⁶ Adults with mental illness (HR 1.55, 1.10-2.19)⁶ Stroke OR 1.07, 1.02-1.13 < 40dB/24h⁷ HR 1.12, 0.99-1.27 for 40-50 vs. ≤40dB⁹ OR 1.017, 1.003-1.032ᵐ HR 1.06, 1.03-1.08 per 10dB increase⁹ OR 1.018, 1.001-1.033ᵐ

<table><tr><td colspan="2">Stroke</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">OR 1.07, 1.02-1.13 &lt; 40dB/24hf</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">HR 1.12, 0.99-1.27 for 40-50 vs. ≤40dBg</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">OR 1.017, 1.003-1.032m</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">HR 1.06, 1.03-1.08 per 10dB increaseg</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">OR 1.018, 1.001-1.033m</td></tr></table>

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Hyperactivity/inattention in children

1dB increase associated with an unit increase of 0.017, 0.007-0.028k OR 1.11, 1.04-1.19 per 10dB increasej

Reading comprehension in children

1dB increase associated with an unit decrease of -0.007, -0.012 to -0.001k Total difficulties in children Aircraft nois

OR 1.09, 1.02-1.16

Dementia and cognitive decline

Residential noise exposure

Cognitive impairment OR 1.36, 1.15-1.162 per 10dB(A)h Alzheimer's disease OR 1.29, 1.08-1.55h

Death from dementia HR 1.12, 0.90-1.38

• “Despite being a relatively new area of investigation, indeed, mounting research and conclusive evidence demonstrate that exposure to noise, primarily from traffic sources, may affect the central nervous system and brain, thereby contributing to an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders such as stroke, dementia and cognitive decline, neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, and anxiety disorder... The presented values are based on selected representative studies with different quality levels of evidence highlighting the need for more research.” (Habad, et al., 2022)