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Wildfire smoke may be worse for your brain than other air pollution, study says

Summary

New research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference indicates that wildfire smoke poses a greater risk to brain health compared to other air pollutants. The study, which analyzed health records of 1.2 million older adults in Southern California from 2009 to 2019, found a 21% increase in the risk of dementia for every 1 microgram increase in wildfire-related PM2.5 particles, compared to a 3% increased risk for every 3 microgram rise in non-wildfire PM2.5 particles. The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the specific impact of wildfire smoke on brain health, especially as wildfires become more frequent and severe.

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