Exposure to wildfire smoke is linked with a higher risk of developing dementia than any other type of air pollution, researchers reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
Starting in 2009, researchers tracked more than 1.2 million adults ages 60 and older in southern California without dementia at the start. They used air quality monitoring data, satellite imagery and machine learning techniques to distinguish between air pollution from wildfires and from other sources.
When the researchers averaged exposure experienced by participants to wildfire smoke particles over three-year periods, based on where individuals lived, they found that for every 1-microgram increase per cubic meter of air, participants had a 21% increase in the risk of an eventual diagnosis of dementia.
By comparison, every 3-microgram increase per cubic meter of air of other types of particulate pollution increased the risk by only 3%, the researchers found.
“Previous research has found that exposure to (particulate matter in air pollution) is associated with dementia, but in light of our large, long-term study, it’s apparent the risk from exposure due to wildfire smoke is an even bigger concern,” study leader Dr. Holly Elser of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia said in a statement.
Exposure to wildfire smoke also has been linked with higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrests, increases in emergency room visits for respiratory conditions, weakened immune defenses, eye irritation and skin problems.
Wildfire smoke now accounts for more than 70% of the air pollution on poor air quality days in California, Elser said.
Her team recommended that people update their air filtration systems and check the air quality on weather apps.
A separate team of researchers reported at the meeting that people who ate about two servings per week of processed red meat such as bacon, hot dogs, red meat and salami had roughly a 14% higher risk of dementia compared to those who ate less than roughly three servings a month.
