Wildfire Smoke Exposure Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Study Finds

Research in Southern California reveals wildfire-generated pollutants may pose greater neurological risks than other air pollution sources.

An 11-year study of over 1.2 million Kaiser Permanente members in Southern California found that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke increased dementia risk by 18%.
Wildfire-generated PM 2.5 particles, which are smaller and more toxic than those from other sources, were identified as particularly harmful to brain health.
The study highlighted that individuals under 75, residents of lower-income areas, and Black and Hispanic populations faced disproportionately higher risks.
Researchers attributed these disparities to factors such as poorer housing quality, limited access to air filtration systems, and baseline health inequalities.
The findings underscore the growing health impacts of climate change-driven wildfires and suggest that mitigating smoke exposure could reduce dementia diagnoses.