Air quality in Seattle has turned hazardous according to the state Department of Ecology, as wildfire smoke from California and Oregon continues to settle in the area. Here, Balmer Yard is shown at sunrise on Saturday, September 12, 2020, in Seattle. Credit: KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer UW study links fine particulate air pollution to dementia Aug 04, 2021 Air pollution is often associated with respiratory illness. But a new University of Washington study adds to a growing body of evidence that links air pollution to greater risk for dementia. Researchers reached that conclusion using data from two existing Seattle projects. One has been measuring air pollution in the region since the 1970s. Another, started in 1994, monitors cognitive changes in older adults.