A new study by the Alzheimer’s Association has found a surprising link between exposure to wildfire smoke and a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia. This study, which spanned 10 years and involved over 1.2 million residents in Southern California, suggests that the smoke from wildfires could be more harmful to brain health than previously thought.

The Rising Threat of Wildfires

Wildfires have become increasingly common, especially in places like California and the western U.S. The most recent example, the Park Fire, burned over 600 square miles in Northern California, near Sacramento, on July 29. These fires produce a type of air pollution that includes fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which is small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs and enter the bloodstream reports Summer Lane from The Epoch Times.

Study Findings

Researchers analyzed the health records of more than 1 million Kaiser Permanente members aged 60 and older from 2009 to 2019. They ...