By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — New research from Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix suggests wildfire smoke may do more than irritate your eyes and lungs. It may also trigger harmful inflammation in the brain that could raise the risk for neurodegenerative diseases over time.
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In a study published in the journal Neurotoxicology, Barrow researchers looked at what happens when wildfire smoke particles reach the brain. They focused on astrocytes, specialized cells that normally protect and support the brain.
The team found that when exposed to wildfire smoke, these astrocytes can become overactivated and release inflammatory molecules at levels the researchers describe as “very alarming.”
“The really big takeaway from this study is that smoke is capable of triggering an inflammatory response in the brain,” said Adam Schuller, Ph.D., a research scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute. “The level of robust inflammation that this smoke caused was very alarming to us as the scientists doing this study.”
Schuller says the inflammation was strong enough to put neurons, the cells responsible for learning, memory and motor function, at risk.
“The level of inflammation was so high that we actually also observed the potential to cause damage and vulnerability to additional damage in neurons,” he explained.
Not proof of causation – but a warning sign
“The key takeaway from the study is not that wildfire smoke causes Parkinson’s disease or causes Alzheimer’s disease,” Schuller said. “But increasingly, we understand that bad levels of inflammation in the brain can contribute to these disease processes.”
He says environmental exposures are now seen as a major piece of the puzzle.
“It’s very clear that the environment plays a big role in the risk for developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease,” Schuller said. “We can even look at identical twins that have the exact same DNA, and one twin gets the disease, and the other twin doesn’t.”
Why this matters now
The findings come in the middle of an active wildfire season. More than 44,000 fires have burned over 4.8 million acres across the United States this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. This exceeds the 10‑year average for both the number of fires and acres burned.
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As smoke drifts into communities far from the flames, most public health messaging has focused on lung and heart health. Barrow’s research adds to growing concern that the brain may also be at risk.
What you can do on smoky days
Schuller says this research is “alarming” even for him as a member of the public — but it also raises awareness, because people can take steps to lower their exposure:
- Monitor air quality: Use apps or local air quality reports to know when pollution and smoke levels are high.
- Limit outdoor activity: Avoid being outside, especially doing strenuous exercise, when the air quality is poor.
- Improve indoor air: Use air purifiers or create cleaner-air rooms at home when smoke is present.
- Use proper masks: A properly fitted N95 mask or a fitted respirator can reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. Cloth masks or loose-fitting face coverings are not enough for tiny smoke particles.
“The best thing that we can do is have awareness of our air quality,” Schuller explained. “Being informed about the things that we’re exposed to every single day gives us more power… and that power can give us the ability to make decisions about our own health.”
‘Knowledge is power’
Schuller says the larger message is that environmental factors can play a major role in brain health — sometimes years before symptoms appear.
“Knowledge is power,” he said. “Stay informed and use available resources to track and monitor the things that you are exposed to, and then use resources like Barrow Neurological Institute. We are studying these exact questions, and we have doctors treating patients every single day to better understand how we can prevent these diseases.”
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