As the owner of an air purifier, I’ll admit the common suspicion of them has crossed my mind: is this thing actually doing anything, or is it just a soft droning background hum tricking me into thinking it’s doing something?   New research published in Scientific Reports suggests that, yes, it is doing something, and that includes protecting you from toxic pollutants that could ravage your brain, especially if you’re over 40. Videos by VICE The study from researchers at the University of Connecticut and Tufts University suggests that pollution seeping indoors from nearby roads, especially highways, may be degrading cognitive performance. The HEPA filter inside your air purifier could help reduce that damage. The study focused on adults living close to major roadways, where traffic pollution regularly sullies indoor air. The study participants used a real HEPA purifier for one month and identical -looking fake purifiers for another month.…