As a growing number of Australians are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a new study confirms that air pollution could be a direct cause of the disease.

And that includes bushfire smoke.

US researchers tracked more than 28 million people over 18 years and found a clear link suggesting those who were exposed to high levels of pollution were more likely to develop the disease than those who avoided it.

Queensland volunteer firefighter Ange Endres has been on the frontline of some of the country’s worst bushfire disasters over her 15 years serving the community, and fears the exposure to smoke could impact her brain.

“We were just breathing it in as if it was air,” the 49-year-old told 10 News Plus.

“I was going out once or twice a week at least and sometimes up to 12 hours a day… And my whole face would just be black. You’d be crying black tears.”

Ange also has a family history of dementia and said she was already experiencing short-term memory loss, but she believes smoke inhalation has exacerbated the problem.

The findings suggest reducing or avoiding air pollution could help maintain cognitive health.

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