Clear the air
Your donation will help deliver urgently needed research into the link between bushfire smoke exposure and diminished brain health.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians, and is on track to take number one spot as our leading killer.
"To protect our firefighters today and in the future, we need to understand how bushfire smoke affects their brain health."
Associate Professor Michelle Lupton
On the front line
Graham and Geraldine (Gel) spent decades volunteering as rural firefighters. As they put it, it’s just what you do when you’re part of a community. You help each other.
As the first line of defence to protect people and property, rural firefighters are on the frontline of exposure to bushfire smoke. It’s why Graham and Gel feel so strongly about supporting Associate Professor Michelle Lupton’s study by volunteering their time yet again – this time, as study participants.
“When we’re looking at a fire, we’re thinking all the time about how to mitigate any risk. That’s how I see this research. It’s about getting the best information, the latest evidence to make sure we can keep people out of harm’s way.”
"With bushfires, firefighters know about the obvious impacts like burns...but we need to find out more about whether the smoke impacts our brains..."
Graham, rural volunteer firefighter
A critical knowledge gap
The adverse health impacts of bushfire smoke exposure on our respiratory and cardiovascular systems are well established. But little is known about what it does to our brains.
There is evidence that bushfire smoke exposure is associated with an increased risk of diminished brain health, dementia and brain inflammation, but research is needed to fully understand this link. This is urgent because dementia is one of the greatest health challenges we face.
The number of Australians living with the disease is rising rapidly, while at the same time we are increasingly being exposed to bushfire smoke, even in city areas, thanks to warming temperatures and more extreme weather events. The most vulnerable include Australians aged over 50 years, our children, those living with or susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, and of course, our frontline rural volunteer firefighters.
Associate Professor Michelle Lupton is dedicated to understanding the risk factors for dementia, both genetic and modifiable. The research is complex, but her goal is simple.
“I don’t want to see anyone robbed of their retirement years like my grandad was. He was in his mid-60s and had only just retired when he was diagnosed. I was doing my PhD on the genetics of the most common form of dementia at the time, but nothing prepared me for how suddenly he deteriorated. It was heartbreaking to see his mind decline so quickly, and his memories of us disappear. He lived out his final years in a nursing home with very high care needs.”
The adverse health impacts of bushfire smoke exposure on our respiratory and cardiovascular systems are well established. But little is known about what it does to our brains. The initial evidence suggests bushfire smoke exposure is associated with an increased risk of diminished brain health, developing dementia, and brain inflammation, but research is needed to fully understand this link. This is urgent because dementia is one of the greatest health challenges we face.
The study
Associate Professor Michelle Lupton, her research team and collaborators are determined to clear the air on the link between bushfire smoke and brain health impacts.
They have designed an unprecedented study that will, for the first time, examine rural firefighters who are at the forefront of long-term bushfire smoke exposure.
The study will include surveying firefighters for health information, measuring historical bushfire smoke exposure to PM2.5, carrying out extensive cognitive testing, and analysing blood samples for biomarkers of brain inflammation and early-stage dementia. This research could help these community heroes who selflessly protect others, to mitigate their own risk. And with their help, the findings could also ensure early detection and intervention for all Australians to protect their brain health.
Exposure to PM2.5
Bushfire smoke is largely made up of tiny particles of ash and other toxic materials. The tiniest of these particles are called PM2.5, particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometres across, too small to see without a powerful microscope.
PM2.5 particles are smaller than a red blood cell, and 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. They can be inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream, and possibly even damage the blood brain barrier.
"With their help and your donation, this research could establish a basis for health monitoring and intervention that could be extended to all Australians. "Together we can clear the air on the link between bushfire smoke and dementia."
Associate Professor Michelle Lupton
Support this vital reserach now