People with greater exposure to air pollution could face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by Emory University in Atlanta.

Air pollution has previously been established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as well as other chronic conditions, like hypertension, stroke and depression, the researchers noted.

Since those other conditions are themselves linked to Alzheimer’s, the researchers said it’s not yet clear whether air pollution harms brain health on its own, or whether it raises dementia risk by first triggering those other health problems.

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The study, which was published in the journal PLOS Medicine, investigated more than 27.8 million U.S. Medicare recipients, 65 years and older, from 2000 to 2018.

The individuals were examined for level of exposure to air pollution and whether they developed Alzheimer’s, with a focus on other chronic conditions.

Greater exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, which was slightly stronger in people who had experienced a stroke. Hypertension and depression had “little additional impact,” according to the study’s press release.

The authors concluded that air pollution leads to Alzheimer’s mostly through “direct pathways” rather than via other chronic conditions.

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“Our findings suggest that individuals with a history of stroke may be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution on brain health, highlighting an important intersection between environmental and vascular risk factors,” the authors wrote in a statement.

These findings suggest that improving air quality could be “an important way to prevent dementia and protect older adults,” the press release concluded.

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel confirmed more studies are revealing that Alzheimer’s is linked to conditions that impact the brain, which can be “sensitive and fragile.”

“Certainly, underlying medical conditions like stroke can lead to this,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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This latest study “does not show cause and effect,” the doctor noted, but rather shows an “increasing association between air pollution and Alzheimer’s, where the particulate matter appears to increase the inflammation in the brain that helps lead to it.”

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“This is another piece in developing a strategy of prevention, early diagnosis and targeted treatments,” Siegel added.

Ozama Ismail, PhD, director of scientific programs at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, agreed that this study adds to existing research on the impact of air pollution and overall health, especially related to the brain.

“Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, and it is likely that there are a variety of factors … that impact a person’s lifetime risk.”

“This is an area of investigation where more research is vital to helping us better understand the connection between pollution and the various factors that cause or contribute to Alzheimer’s disease,” Ismail, who also did not work on the study, told Fox News Digital.

“Previous studies, including those presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in 2019, 2021 and 2025, have shown evidence for connections between exposure to air pollution and other environmental toxins and risk for Alzheimer’s or other dementias.”

The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention added exposure to air pollution to its list of known dementia risk factors in 2020, according to Ismail.

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“We know that Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, and it is likely that there are a variety of factors, in combination, that impact a person’s lifetime risk,” he said. “Avoiding exposure to air pollution is a risk factor that may be easier for some people to change than others.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.

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Hundreds of geese have reportedly died in New Jersey, and bird flu is suspected to be the culprit.

More than 1,100 dead or sick wild birds — almost all of them Canadian geese — were reported between Feb. 14 and Feb. 16 across seven counties, according to New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Although tests are still pending, officials say the deaths were likely caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu, which is a respiratory disease of birds caused by influenza A viruses.

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“I find the images of the dead and dying birds very troubling, unsettling, and a reminder that avian flu continues to be present,” David J. Cennimo, MD, associate professor of medicine and pediatrics and an infectious diseases specialist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, told Fox News Digital.

“It is important to note that at the time of this writing, the cause of death has not been announced, and bird flu is only strongly suspected, but the picture is consistent with avian influenza, and there is a good reason for the high-level suspicion.”

Some local parks have temporarily closed out of an “abundance of caution,” including Betty Park and Alcyon Park in Gloucester County.

“Residents are asked not to approach any geese in or around the area,” the Borough of Pittman advised in a social media post.

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Common symptoms of HPAI among birds include diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, discharge from the nose and lack of coordination, according to DEP. Some birds, however, may die from the virus even if they never appear to be sick. 

While geese have made up the majority of the New Jersey fatalities, avian influenza also poses a risk to chickens, turkeys and ducks.

“We have seen cases of avian influenza in other animals, most notably dairy cows and cats,” Cennimo said. “If possible, domestic animals should be kept away from sick birds.”

Although the risk to the public is low, health officials recommend avoiding direct contact with wild birds or animals that could be infected.

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“Public awareness and precautionary measures are essential to mitigate the impact of bird flu on both agriculture and public health,” the DEP stated.

Avian influenza viruses continue to spread in wild bird populations, Cennimo said, and transmission can be amplified by close congregations of birds. This can happen during a period of freezing temperatures, when there is limited availability of water.

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“The risk to humans remains low at this time,” the expert confirmed. “If the birds did die of influenza, they could still have live virus and could infect humans. For this reason, people should avoid handling sick or dead birds, use protective measures like gloves and wash their hands.”

“It’s sad from an ecological perspective, but it also poses a risk to any nearby agricultural facilities.”

Rebecca Carriere Christofferson, PhD, associate professor of pathobiological sciences at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, noted that mass bird deaths are a symptom of ongoing transmission of bird flu.

“It’s sad from an ecological perspective, but also poses a risk to any nearby agricultural facilities, as we’ve seen spillover into poultry and dairy cattle in the last couple of years,” she told Fox News Digital. “The more transmission, the more the chance for there to be transmission to humans.”

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Last year, there were some human deaths due to bird flu, primarily linked to contact with infected animals, Christofferson noted.

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“Surveillance is key to preventing uncontrolled spread, and understanding the patterns of where the virus is — and is going — can help mitigate the ongoing risk to our animal and human populations.”