Wildfire Smoke Increases Dementia Risk Significantly

A long-term study involving 1.2 million older adults in Southern California has found that exposure to wildfire smoke significantly increases the risk of dementia, more so than other types of air pollution like vehicle and factory emissions. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is small enough to be inhaled into the lungs and then move into the bloodstream, posing a severe health risk. The risk of dementia rose by 21% for every 1 microgram increase in wildfire PM2.5 concentration, compared to a 3% increase for non-wildfire PM2.5. The findings, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, highlight the growing threat of wildfires globally due to climate change, necessitating better policies to prevent and address such fires. Researchers emphasize the importance of improving air quality to protect cognitive health, especially as wildfires become more frequent and severe. Health warnings advise staying indoors during poor air quality, but this is not always feasible for everyone, especially lower-income populations who are at higher risk.