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.
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.”…