HEPA Air Purifier May Boost Brain Health — Emerging Research

Article at a Glance

• Both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution have been associated with neurological diseases — including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.[2][3]
• Particulate matter found in air pollution contributes to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which damage brain cells (neurons).[1]
• A new study published in Scientific Reports found adults over the age of 40 experienced improvement in brain function after using a HEPA air purifier for one month.
• Medicinal herbs that support brain and cognitive health include dual-extracted cordyceps, reishi, and lion’s mane medicinal mushrooms, along with lemon balm. Each is found in Nicole's Apothecary Brain Bundle and available at NicolesApothecary.com.

HEPA Air Purifier May Boost Brain Health, Researchers Find

I've written quite a bit over the years about how to keep your brain healthy — from diet to exercise, menopause to cardiovascular health. Keeping your brain in top health becomes even more important as you age. This is why a 2026 study published in the journal Scientific Reports caught my eye. The research team found that a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter helped to improve cognition in study participants. Considering the World Health Organization (WHO) believes that air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to health, improving indoor air quality is a smart move.^{[ 13 ]}13. Pan American Health Organization. "New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution." September 22, 2021. In this post, we’ll explore the findings and why a HEPA air purifier may boost brain health. But first, let's take a look at the impacts of air pollution on your overall health.

Can indoor air pollution harm cardiovascular, neurological, and cognitive health?

In this day and age, it's nearly impossible to avoid air pollution. Unfortunately, it also takes a significant toll on your brain. Research has shown that both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution are linked to poor brain health. Long-term exposure is associated with a heightened risk of neurological diseases — including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. How so? Because particulate matter found in air pollution contributes to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which damage neurons.^{[ 1 ]}1. Roy, Raymond, and Amedeo D'Angiulli. "Air pollution and neurological diseases, current state highlights." Frontiers in Neuroscience 18, 1351721. 6 Mar. 2024.

Toxic wildfire smoke is especially damaging, not only to brain health, but also to your lungs, blood, and heart, which can lead to strokes.^{[ 6 ]}6. Prunicki M, Kelsey R, Lee J, Zhou X, Smith E, Haddad F, Wu J, Nadeau K. "The impact of prescribed fire versus wildfire on the immune and cardiovascular systems of children." Allergy 74,10 (2019): 1989-1991. As I wrote in The Hidden Dangers of Wildfire Smoke: Here’s How to Lessen the Health Impact:

"With wildfires, it isn’t just wood and brush burning, but buildings and cars as well, which release a large amount of chemicals and heavy metals — including asbestos, household cleaners, sulfuric acid, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and more. Add to this carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzene, and formaldehyde, and the toxic plume of wildfire smoke is concerning. ... Wildfire smoke also contains cancer-causing polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When a fire burns through a residential area, oftentimes we don't consider that all the synthetic materials found in cars and houses are burning too — and releasing those toxins into the air."

Here's the good news: there are active steps you can take to mitigate these dangers — one of which is using a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.

Study Reveals Why Using a HEPA Air Purifier May Boost Brain Health

Research published in Scientific Reports by the University of Connecticut found that people over 40 who utilized a HEPA air filter for one month scored higher on a cognitive test assessing visual memory and motor speed skills.^{[ 4 ]}4. Julia Szczech. "Research Spotlight: Can HEPA Air Purifiers Improve Brain Function?." University of Connecticut, June 2, 2026.^{[ 5 ]}5. Pellegrino, N., Eliasziw, M., Fortinsky, R. et al. "Effect of HEPA filtration air purifiers on cognitive function from a secondary outcome analysis of a pragmatic randomized crossover trial." Scientific Reports 16, 17737 (2026). The study involved 119 healthy people between the ages of 30 and 74 living in an area with high levels of traffic-related air pollution. Each participant was assigned to one of two groups: the first used a HEPA air purifier for one month, then took a break for 30 days. Next, they used the fake air purifier for another month. The second group began with the fake purifier and followed the protocol in reverse. Each month, both groups completed a test to measure cognitive skills.

The team concluded:

"Our results suggest that, among older healthy adults living near highways in the Northeastern US, there was an improvement in cognition following one month of in-home HEPA filtration. Despite the strength of our trial design, there is a need for further research that employs methods with strong causal inference of short-term exposure to air particulates and cognitive outcomes, especially among individuals who have cognitive impairment."

Although the study was small and additional research is needed, the results are promising. A HEPA air purifier may be a simple way to boost brain health by removing particulate matter from indoor air. As you age, maintaining good air quality in your home and workplace becomes increasingly important to help reduce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in order to minimize the associated health risks.

The Takeaway

While more research is needed, the preliminary findings of the study hold promise for improving cognitive health in those over 40 who use a HEPA air purifier to reduce particulate matter exposure. Indoor air quality matters not only for your brain, but also for your heart and lung health. Using a HEPA filter is a simple way to help protect against the negative impacts of indoor air pollution — including systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can damage brain neurons. For an extra level of protection and support, Nicole's Apothecary Brain Bundle can help — visit the apothecary today to learn more.

Boost Your Brain Power 

Nicole Apelian

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References

1. Roy, Raymond, and Amedeo D'Angiulli. “Air pollution and neurological diseases, current state highlights.” Frontiers in neuroscience vol. 18 1351721. 6 Mar. 2024, doi:10.3389/fnins.2024.1351721. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10950980/
2. HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research, The Conversation, April 22, 2026. Nicholas Pellegrino, Research Associate in Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut; Doug Brugge, Professor of Public Health Science and Community Medicine, University of Connecticut; Misha Eliasziw, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University. https://theconversation.com/hepa-air-purifiers-may-boost-brain-power-in-adults-over-40-new-research-280885
3. “HEPA air purifiers may boost brain function after just one month.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 August 2026. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260830000016.htm
4. Research Spotlight: Can HEPA Air Purifiers Improve Brain Function? By Julia Szczech, University of Connecticut, June 2, 2026. https://phd.publichealth.uconn.edu/2026/06/02/research-spotlight-can-hepa-air-purifiers-improve-brain-function/
5. Pellegrino, N., Eliasziw, M., Fortinsky, R. et al. Effect of HEPA filtration air purifiers on cognitive function from a secondary outcome analysis of a pragmatic randomized crossover trial. Sci Rep 16, 17737 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-48063-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-48063-8
6. Prunicki M, Kelsey R, Lee J, Zhou X, Smith E, Haddad F, Wu J, Nadeau K. The impact of prescribed fire versus wildfire on the immune and cardiovascular systems of children. Allergy. 2019 Oct;74(10):1989-1991. doi: 10.1111/all.13825. Epub 2019 May 30. PMID: 31002401; PMCID: PMC6801011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31002401/
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12. Ramanauskiene, Kristina, Raudonis, Raimondas, Majiene, Daiva, Rosmarinic Acid and Melissa officinalis Extracts Differently Affect Glioblastoma Cells, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2016, 1564257, 9 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1564257. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2016/1564257
13. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution, Pan American Health Organization, September 22, 2021. https://www.paho.org/en/news/22-9-2021-new-who-global-air-quality-guidelines-aim-save-millions-lives-air-pollution