Women who regularly cook with polluting fuels like wood, dung, kerosene, or coal are at greater risk of cognitive decline, a new study using brain-imaging data from the Indian Institute of Science reveals. Researchers analyzed three large national surveys—covering over 76,000 older adults in India, Mexico, and China—and found that women experienced stronger cognitive impairment compared to men exposed to the same indoor air pollution.

The cognitive deficits associated with polluting fuel use were equivalent to declines seen in individuals 3–6 years older, after adjusting for socioeconomic, educational, and rural/urban factors. Scientists propose that fine particulate matter produced during combustion can enter the bloodstream and brain—via the olfactory bulb—leading to neuroinflammation and neuronal damage over time.

Encouragingly, the study noted that better ventilation and improved cookstove designs can partially reduce these negative effects . Given that nearly three billion people still rely on biomass fuels for cooking, and the impact is particularly devastating for women, the findings highlight the urgent need to accelerate transitions to cleaner fuels and enhance kitchen ventilation while expanding initiatives like India’s Ujjwala Yojana.