How wildfires may lead to higher rates of dementia
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:
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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
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Diana Opong
Reporter & Host
Diana Opong is a general assignment reporter at KUOW, committed to illuminating impactful stories throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her journalistic lens spans between environmental phenomena like invasive green crabs to transformative milestones in ballet. Rooted in curiosity, Diana's approach to reporting blends meticulous research with collaborative storytelling, ensuring her work resonates deeply with audiences. She has also showcased her expertise as a freelance host for NPR's Life Kit and as a spot news reporter for NPR News, consistently delivering insightful narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
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Sarah Leibovitz
Supervising Producer, Soundside
Sarah joined KUOW in 2019 as senior producer on The Record. She is now Supervising KUOW’s new noon time show, Soundside. Prior to working at KUOW, Sarah was lead producer at the Seattle podcast production company Larj Media, and a teaching artist with Path with Art.
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