Air pollution contributes to nearly 7 million premature deaths each year, and its effects go far beyond the lungs. Breathing in wildfire smoke or automobile-related city smog doesn't just increase the risk of asthma and heart disease -- it may also contribute to brain conditions as diverse as Alzheimer's and autism. Scientists have discovered how a chemical change in the brain -- which can be triggered by inflammation and aging as well as toxins found in air pollution, pesticides, wildfire smoke and processed meats -- disrupts normal brain cell function. Known as S-nitrosylation, this chemical change prevents brain cells from making new connections and ultimately results in cellular death, the team discovered.
Read more …How air pollution and wildfire smoke may contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer's disease