As a record number of baby boomers turn 65, the percentage of Americans living with some form of mental decline– severe enough to interfere with daily living – is expected to rise.

What exactly leads to dementia is still something of a mystery - but lifestyle and environmental factors are known to contribute to a person’s risk of cognitive decline.

A study published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology identifies a new factor that may be impacting dementia risk: wildfire smoke.

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Guest:

• Joan Casey is the lead author of the newly published study “Wildfire Smoke Exposure and Incident Dementia”, she’s also an associate professor of environmental & occupational health sciences at the University of Washington

Relevant Links:

• Video: UW-led research links wildfire smoke exposure with increased dementia risk - UW News
• Wildfire Smoke Exposure and Incident Dementia - JAMA Neurology

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