Researchers retract, then re-publish study linking wildfire smoke and dementia
Now, they're retracting the study, published last November in the journal JAMA Neurology, after discovering a mistake in how they coded the data.
"It was a very small error. We had a single 'or' symbol, where we should have had an 'and' symbol in thousands of lines of code," said Joan Casey, one of the co-authors of the study.
They've corrected the error, crunched the data again and republished their paper. Now, the authors say their findings suggest a much more subtle link between wildfire smoke and dementia.
"We now have a nuanced finding in the corrected result," said Casey, who is a professor in the school of public health at the University of Washington.
Initially, Casey and her colleagues had found when the three-year average concentration of wildfire PM2.5 (the average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air due to wildfires in the region) went up by just one microgram per cubic metre of air, there was an associated 18 per cent of increase in the odds of a dementia diagnosis.
Now, Casey believes the increase to be closer to 12 per cent.
The finding is also no longer statistically significant, meaning there is some possibility the result is due to chance.
But that doesn't mean the researchers were wrong to identify the possible link, says Scott Weichenthal, a professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University. It just means the link needs to be studied further.
"The data still suggests there's a positive association there for sure. It's just not quite as strong as it was in their original paper," said Weichenthal, who was not involved with the study.
A growing body of research already links long-term exposure to air pollution with an increased risk of dementia. What's less established, is whether specific sources of air pollution — like wildfire smoke — affect the risk of dementia.
There's been a limited number of studies, like this one, suggesting wildfire smoke from agriculture and wildfires were associated with higher rates of dementia.
Weichenthal says researchers have a long way to go in understanding the long-term effects of wildfire smoke, especially on peoples' brains.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
20 minutes ago
- National Post
NFL Running Back Derrick Henry Joins Amazfit as Athlete Ambassador
Article content Henry to utilize Amazfit products to optimize health, recovery and performance as he enters his 10th NFL season Article content MILPITAS, Calif. — Amazfit, a leading global smart wearables brand owned by Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), announced Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry as the newest elite athlete to join its growing roster of ambassadors. Known for his rare combination of speed and strength, Henry will utilize Amazfit wearables to power every phase of his training, recovery and sleep as he prepares for his 10th NFL season. Article content 'As I progress in my career it's important to properly track my training and recovery so my body is ready for the on-field challenge every Sunday,' said Henry. 'Amazfit and the T-Rex 3 give me the tools to do this.' Article content As one of the most prolific running backs of his generation, Henry has amassed an impressive array of accolades during his career, including NFL Offensive Player of the Year, two rushing titles, and five Pro Bowl selections. With Amazfit as his official smart wearable partner, the former Heisman winner will integrate advanced health and fitness tracking into his training regimen and recovery routine using Amazfit's performance-focused smartwatches, fitness wearables and the Zepp App. Article content 'As I progress in my career it's important to properly track my training and recovery so my body is ready for the on-field challenge every Sunday,' said Henry. 'Amazfit and the T-Rex 3 give me the tools to do this. From tracking my heart rate and training load to making sure I recover properly with sleep and stress monitoring, this partnership will help me take maintain peak performance week in and week out.' Article content As he enters his 10th NFL season, Henry is doubling down on optimizing his health and recovery to extend his dominance on the field. Following one of the most productive seasons of his career, Henry has been training this offseason with the Amazfit T-Rex 3, using it to monitor key health metrics, recovery indicators, and sleep quality. Paired with the Zepp App, he can tap into AI-powered insights, track nutrition with the Food Log and use the all new BioCharge feature that measures changes in body energy throughout the day, all designed to help him perform at the highest level throughout the season. Article content 'Derrick is one of the most respected and hardworking athletes in sports today, and his relentless drive to be the best mirrors our mission at Amazfit to help people unlock their full potential. We're excited to support his training journey as he prepares for the upcoming season and provide valuable insights to ensure he's performing at his best,' said Wayne Huang, Founder & CEO of Zepp Health. Article content Henry joins a growing lineup of Amazfit athlete ambassadors, including Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas, HYROX world champions Meg Jacoby and Hunter McIntyre, Padel star Bea González, triathlete Morgan Pearson, distance runner Yemaneberhan 'Yeman' Crippa, and WTA top-10 tennis player Jasmine Paolini. Article content Amazfit remains committed to empowering holistic health by supporting the four pillars of wellness: fitness, sleep, mindfulness, and nutrition. Whether tracking progress during high-impact workouts, optimizing recovery through sleep and readiness insights, or staying mindful with stress monitoring, Amazfit delivers a comprehensive approach to health that matches the intensity of world-class athletes like Henry. Article content Explore the full range of Amazfit smart wearables and experience innovation that elevates performance, recovery, and precision at Article content About Amazfit Article content Amazfit, a leading global smart wearable brand focused on health and fitness, is part of Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), a health technology company with its principal office based in Gorinchem, the Netherlands. Zepp Health operates as a distributed organization, with team members and offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and other global markets. Article content Offering a wide selection of smartwatches and bands, Amazfit's brand tagline, 'Discover Amazing,' encourages individuals to break barriers, exceed expectations, and find joy in every moment. Amazfit is powered by Zepp Health's proprietary health management platform, which delivers cloud-based, 24/7 actionable insights and guidance to help users achieve their wellness goals. Article content Known for outstanding craftsmanship, Amazfit smartwatches have won numerous design awards, including the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award. Launched in 2015, Amazfit is embraced by millions of users, with products available in over 90 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Article content Article content Mary Thompson Woodbury Article content Article content
CTV News
20 minutes ago
- CTV News
Rare Ceratosaurus fossil sells for US$30.5 million
The fossil is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus specimen known to exist. (Matthew Sherman via CNN Newsource) A Ceratosaurus fossil that is one of only four known to exist has sold for US$30.5 million at auction. The rare dinosaur fossil is 'one of the finest and most complete examples of its kind ever found,' auction house Sotheby's said in a statement published Wednesday. The specimen, which is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil of the four, sold for multiples of its $4 million-$6 million estimate at Sotheby's New York following a six-minute battle between six different bidders. Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a meat-eating predator with a nasal horn, long teeth and bony armor that ran down its back and tail. Standing six feet, three inches (1.9 metres) tall and approximately 10 feet, eight inches (3.25 metres) long, this juvenile fossil is made up of 139 bone elements, of which 57 make up 'a superb virtually complete skull,' according to Sotheby's. It was found in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming and dates from the late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. The fossil was displayed at the Museum of Ancient Life in Thanksgiving Point, Utah, from 2000 to 2024 and has not been studied or described formally in a scientific journal, Sotheby's said. Ceratosaurus fossil A close view of the head of the fossil is pictured. (Matthew Sherman via CNN Newsource) 'The buyer of the Ceratosaurus intends to loan it to an institution, as is fitting for a specimen of this rarity and importance,' the auction house said. In the same sale, a meteorite that is the largest known piece of Mars on Earth sold for $5.3 million. 'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination and respect for the natural world — from the farthest reaches of space to the ancient depths of the Earth. What draws collectors is more than just a passion for science; it's a deep-seated curiosity about the forces that have shaped our planet and beyond,' Cassandra Hatton, global head of science and natural history at Sotheby's, said in the statement. Mark Westgarth, a professor of history of the art market at the University of Leeds, England, told CNN that the sale 'is part of a recent resurgence of interest in fossils and natural history.' For example, Sotheby's also sold the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction, Apex the Stegosaur, which fetched $44.6 million in July 2024. 'At the top end of the market … seems to be about an increasing desire for 'distinction,'' said Westgarth. 'These dinosaur specimens also have a particular aesthetic — they are sculptural and awe inspiring.' For Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at Scotland's University of Edinburgh, these kinds of price tags are shocking. 'Who has that kind of money to spend on a dinosaur? Certainly not any museums or educational institutions,' he told CNN. 'While I'm pleased that the buyer might loan the skeleton to a museum to be put on display, at this point it is just a vague suggestion. The buyer is still anonymous,' Brusatte added. 'My fear is that this skeleton will disappear into the ether, into the mansion of an oligarch or a bank vault to accumulate value as just another investment in the portfolio of a hedge fund, and not see the light of day until it's auctioned again, or maybe never at all,' he said. Ceratosaurus fossil A human is pictured standing next to the fossil. (Matthew Sherman via CNN Newsource) 'Bottom line, a world where dinosaur skeletons can fetch tens of millions of dollars within a few minutes at auctions is not a world where dinosaurs will long be accessible to educate and inspire everyone,' Brusatte added. However, Westgarth argues that there is a 'symbiotic' relationship between the market and wider research interests. He cites the example of Mary Anning, who discovered fossils on England's south coast in the early 19th century and went on to open a successful fossil shop. 'Here the market for fossils acted as a catalyst for research in public institutions in the 19th century, inculcating increasing attention and public interest and acting as a catalyst for increased research activity on dinosaur fossils,' said Westgarth, who argues that the fact that the buyer of the Ceratosaurus fossil 'has suggested that they will loan it to an institution only adds to its potential for future research activity.' By Jack Guy, CNN
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Trump has chronic venous insufficiency. Here's what the White House doctor said about the diagnosis
Donald Trump, 79, has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after he was examined for swelling in his lower legs, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Although the swelling was 'mild,' the condition caused blood to pool in the U.S. president's legs. Article content Leavitt addressed Trump's condition at a press conference briefly, calling it 'benign' and common in people over the age of 70. She added that there is no evidence of Trump's condition being serious or life-threatening, as revealed by further and 'compressive' tests. Article content Article content JUST IN: President Trump underwent vascular testing after he had swelling in his legs. "All results were within normal limits ... and the president remains in excellent health," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. — ABC News (@ABC) July 17, 2025 Article content Here's what we know about Trump's condition, how it is treated and what the letter from Trump's doctor says. Article content Blood is normally pumped all over the body. Veins in the body then take the blood insufficient in oxygen back to the heart to refuel. In some cases, veins aren't able to carry out that function properly and as a result the blood pools in the legs. This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency. Article content Cleveland Clinic notes that 'this increases pressure in the leg veins and causes symptoms like swelling and ulcers.' The academic centre encourages lifestyle changes as the first method of treatment for this condition. Article content Article content 'If these measures aren't enough, your provider may recommend a procedure or surgery. 'The best treatment for you depends on how far your condition has progressed and other medical conditions you have,' according to Cleveland Clinic. Article content What did the White House physician's letter say? Article content The letter by Trump's doctor explained that the diagnosis came after Trump underwent a comprehensive examination as the president noted mild swelling his legs. Results for other tests 'were within normal limits,' physician Capt. Sean Barbabella wrote. 'No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified,' the letter continued. Article content Article content Article content Article content 'This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen,' Barbabella wrote. 'This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.' Article content
