Researchers have revealed a connection between prolonged exposure to smoke from wildfires in Southern California and the diagnosis of dementia.
The dangerous pollutants in the smoke create particles known as PM 2.5. When airborne pollutants made up of these particles remain in the air over time, they can impact the lungs and heart.
Previous studies have linked particle-based pollution to premature death, including irregular heartbeats, worsening asthma, non-fatal heart attacks, weakened lungs, and difficulty breathing.
This pollution has also been associated with neurological disorders, but the role of PM 2.5 in this regard is a new discovery.
In a recent study, over 1.2 million residents aged 60 and older in Southern California were analyzed over a period of 11 years. A group of doctors found that individuals who spent more than three years exposed to smoke from wildfires showed a significant increase in dementia rates.
Researchers noted that each additional microgram per square meter of air pollution from wildfires was linked to an 18% increase in dementia diagnoses.
