9/11 Responders Face Elevated Early Dementia Risk Due to Dust Exposure

New study highlights significant health impacts for workers exposed to toxic debris at the World Trade Center site.

Researchers found a strong correlation between dust exposure levels and early-onset dementia among responders.
The study tracked the cognitive health of over 5,000 responders from 2014 to 2022.
Those with the highest dust exposure were up to 42 times more likely to develop dementia before age 65.
Protective personal equipment use was linked to lower dementia risk.
Findings underscore the importance of PPE in mitigating long-term health risks in disaster response scenarios.