A cross-sectional study on the association between environmental residential noise exposure with cognitive functioning and structural markers of brain damage-The Maastricht study

Background: Environmental noise negatively impacts physical and mental health, but its effects on brain health remain unclear. This study investigates associations between environmental noise exposure (objective and self-reported), cognitive functioning, and structural brain markers in a large adult population, while considering psychological, sensory, sociodemographic, and health-related modifiers. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 4,023 participants (aged 40-75 years) in The Maastricht Study were matched with address-level noise data (roads, railways, aviation, industry, wind turbines) and self-reported noise exposure (traffic, work, neighbors). Cognitive functioning and brain-MRI markers were analyzed using linear/logistic regression and restricted cubic splines, adjusted for demographics, cardiometabolic/lifestyle factors, and air pollution. Modifying roles of sleepiness, depression, socioeconomic position, cardiometabolic health and hearing loss were assessed through interaction analyses. Results: Objective noise exposure showed no association with cognitive function, while work-related noise was associated with worse overall cognition, memory, executive functioning, and information processing speed. Higher environmental noise was linked to lower white matter volume, higher cerebrospinal fluid volume, and a U-shaped relationship with grey matter volume. The association with cerebrospinal fluid was stronger in older individuals and those with cardiometabolic or lifestyle risk factors. Sleepiness, depression, and hearing loss did not modify results. Conclusion: Higher environmental noise exposure is associated with more brain atrophy, while reported noise at work was linked to lower cognitive functioning. The U-shaped grey matter association may reflect compensatory or adaptive responses to extreme exposure. Findings highlight differences between objective and self-reported noise measures, sources, and indicate groups with higher vulnerability.