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275 points rntn | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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dynm ◴[] No.45158964[source]
This article repeats the common mistake of conflating correlations and causality. The main results are (1) that PM2.5 exposure is correlated with dementia in humans, (2) some experimental results with mice. This does not establish causality in humans. The paper is careful to stay juuuust on the right side of the line by carefully using "associated" in the right places. But the press release discards that pretense at rigor and jumps straight to full-on claims of causality in people:

> Long-term exposure accelerates the development of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease with dementia in people who are predisposed to the conditions.

I think it's entirely possible (perhaps even likely) that this is true. But the paper does not show it.

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1. mikeiz404 ◴[] No.45160027[source]
It is unfortunate that the title and subheading of the article use a causal phrasing. Fortunately the body of the article does maintain the correct distinction.