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Exposure to Wildfire Smoke and Other Pollutants Increases Risk of Dementia

Not long ago, residents of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley experienced a strange phenomenon as a result of Canadian wildfires. For several days, the sky turned shades of gray and orange as the sun was dimmed out and the air smelled of smoke. More recently, the horror of the California wildfires dominated the news and destroyed people’s lives. The spreading smoke increases the danger of the fire beyond the actual flames. Residents of the Lehigh Valley are familiar with pollution, but did you know that air particulates found in the air can increase the risk of health issues, including dementia? This makes the need for memory care more important than ever, and South Mountain Memory Care wants to be there for you.

Dementia is a loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning skills. It’s not a normal part of aging. However, the risk of developing dementia grows as people get older. Millions of Americans, along with their families and caregivers, are living with the effects of dementia. This number is expected to continue to grow as the population ages.

Exposure to a type of air pollution called fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for dementia. The reason for the connection is not yet well understood. Researchers do know that fine particulates can affect the lungs, circulate in the blood, and move into the brain where they might be able to cause direct damage.

An NIH-funded study led by Drs. Boya Zhang and Sara Adar from the University of Michigan examined the links between different types of PM2.5 air pollution and dementia. Overall, higher PM2.5 exposure was linked to an increased risk of dementia. 

“As we experience the effects of air pollution from wildfires and other emissions locally and internationally, these findings contribute to the strong evidence needed to best inform health and policy decisions,” says Dr Richard J. Hodes, director of NIH’s National Institute on Aging.

Whatever the cause of your or your loved one’s memory issues, South Mountain Memory Care, with our unique culture, “small house” model, and abundance of certified caregivers, offers you the peace of mind of knowing your loved one will be cared for as if they were our family—which they are!

South Mountain Memory Care is committed to providing individualized, compassionate care to support our residents in achieving a well-balanced lifestyle. We strive to allow our residents to remain independent while emphasizing safety. Our focus is to enrich their life—mind, body, and spirit—by bringing new initiatives into their day-to-day regimen while maintaining the activities they find comfort in. South Mountain Memory Care offers the peace of mind you deserve. When it comes to those you care so deeply about, we understand because we care, too.

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