A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that long-term exposure to the fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke is associated with a higher risk of a dementia diagnosis.
In short:
- For the more than 1.2 million southern Californians studied, the odds of developing dementia from exposure to wildfire smoke were 18 times higher than the risk from other sources of air pollution.
- This stronger link to dementia may be due to the higher concentrations of inflammatory and oxidative compounds in wildfire smoke.
- The association between dementia and wildfire exposure was impacted by ethnicity and income, with Asian, Black, and Hispanic individuals and those living in areas with high poverty at the highest risk.
Key quote:
“These results align with prior research consistently demonstrating that individual-level and area-level social determinants compound the risk of adverse health outcomes associated with climate-driven environmental exposures.”
Why this matters:
As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, wildfires have become increasingly intense and frequent. Their impact on air pollution is significant - in California, wildfires account for over 70% of the fine particulate matter exposure on days with poor air quality. The authors of this study underscore the need for policies that protect vulnerable populations from air pollution and reduce the inequality in its health impacts.
Related EHN coverage:
- Wildfires and heat waves linked to an increased risk of preterm birth
- Air pollution linked to more than 700 health conditions
More resources:
- California Air Resources Board: Smoke ready California
- Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): Resources on Air Quality
- Exercise can build up your brain. Air pollution may negate those benefits ›
- Researchers now have even more proof that air pollution can cause dementia ›
