第2283期:Particles in Wildfire Smoke May Increase Dementia Risk

A new study suggests that particles found in wildfire smoke could increase the risk of getting dementia.
一项新的研究表明，野火烟雾中的颗粒可能会增加患痴呆症的风险。

Dementia is a progressive brain condition that causes thinking problems and other health issues. There are several forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
痴呆是一种逐渐恶化的脑部疾病，会导致思维问题和其他健康问题。痴呆症有多种形式，包括阿尔茨海默病。

Researchers reported the new findings about wildfire smoke at the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
研究人员在最近于宾夕法尼亚州费城举行的阿尔茨海默病协会国际会议上报告了有关野火烟雾的新发现。

The study centered on a substance called PM2.5. The substance is known as particulate matter, a mixture of small, solid particles and water droplets found in the air.
这项研究的重点是一种称为PM2.5的物质。该物质被称为颗粒物，是空气中存在的小固体颗粒和水滴的混合物。

PM2.5 particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair. They can be breathed into the lungs and then move on to the bloodstream. Existing evidence shows this kind of pollution – from traffic, factories and fires – can cause or worsen heart disease. The new study finds it could also raise dementia risks.
PM2.5颗粒约为人类头发丝的30分之一。它们可以被吸入肺部，然后进入血液。现有证据表明，这种来自交通、工厂和火灾的污染可以导致或加剧心脏病。新的研究发现，它还可能增加患痴呆症的风险。

Claire Sexton is the director of scientific programs for the Alzheimer’s Association. She said in a statement the study shows that increasing wildfires, especially in the American west, are “an increasing threat to brain health.” Sexton added that the findings demonstrate “the importance of enacting policies to prevent wildfires and investigating better methods to address them.”
克莱尔·塞克斯顿是阿尔茨海默病协会科学项目的主任。她在一份声明中表示，这项研究表明，日益增加的野火，尤其是在美国西部，是“对脑部健康日益增加的威胁。”塞克斯顿补充说，这些发现证明了“制定防止野火政策和研究更好的应对方法的重要性。”

Researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania carried out the study. They examined health records of 1.2 million older adults in Southern California between 2009 and 2019. The scientists used air quality monitoring and other data to estimate how much PM2.5 was released from wildfire smoke or other ways over three years.
华盛顿大学和宾夕法尼亚大学的研究人员进行了这项研究。他们检查了2009年至2019年间南加州120万老年人的健康记录。科学家们使用空气质量监测和其他数据来估算三年内野火烟雾或其他方式释放的PM2.5的量。

The study found the risk of being diagnosed with dementia increased about 21 percent for every 1 microgram increase in the concentration of wildfire particles. That compared with a 3 percent increased risk for every 3 microgram increase in non-wildfire particles.
研究发现，每增加1微克的野火颗粒浓度，诊断为痴呆症的风险增加约21%。相比之下，每增加3微克的非野火颗粒，风险仅增加3%。

It is not clear why this difference exists. But with wildfires increasing, this issue needs more study, said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo. She said it is especially important because the risk of Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – is higher for lower-income populations who may have a harder time avoiding unhealthy air.
目前尚不清楚为什么会存在这种差异。但随着野火的增加，这个问题需要进一步研究，阿尔茨海默病协会首席科学官玛丽亚·卡里略表示。她说，这一点尤为重要，因为阿尔茨海默病——最常见的痴呆症形式——的风险在低收入人群中更高，这些人可能更难以避免不健康的空气。

Carrillo noted that health warnings urge staying indoors when air quality is poor. But she added, “there are a lot of people who don't have the option to stay home or they work outside.”
卡里略指出，健康警告建议在空气质量差的时候待在室内。但她补充说，“有很多人没有选择留在家中，或者他们在室外工作。”