Many elders have the habit of burning incense at home. This is a kind of respect for the ancestors. However, a recent study by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) points out that burning incense can damage the brain and affect cognitive function. The Chinese University of Hong Kong spent 3 years to invite about 500 elders, among which about ⅓ of the participants had the habit of burning incense, and the other ⅔ did not. They underwent cognitive assessments and brain scans in years 1 and 3, and found that the cognitive abilities of those who had the habit of burning incense were weaker than those who did not. According to the researchers, when burning incense, the pollutants emitted from the incense will affect brain function and accelerate brain degeneration. Therefore, it is recommended that the air should be well ventilated to minimize the inhalation of pollutants emitted during incense burning. If possible, consider reducing the frequency of burning incense.
CU Research:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63568-6
