Childhood exposure to solid cooking fuels linked to cognitive decline in later life
A large study using China’s Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study finds that adults who grew up in homes using solid cooking fuels (coal/wood) show poorer episodic memory and mental processing decades later. The researchers identify biological factors (e.g., BMI, daily living limitations) and socioeconomic pathways (education, income) as mediators, while psychological factors had no significant link. The study is observational and may be limited by recall bias and population specificity, but it underscores the potential brain-health benefits of providing clean energy in childhood.