The Effect of Wildfire Exposure: Neurological Outcomes, Mental Health, and Epigenetic Insights

Current evidence suggests that wildfire exposure may influence neurological and mental health outcomes through biological and psychosocial pathways. However, the literature remains heterogeneous, and the independent effects of wildfire smoke exposure are often difficult to disentangle from disaster-related stressors. In addition, human evidence linking wildfire exposure to epigenetic changes remains limited, restricting causal inference. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies integrating exposure assessment, neurological outcomes, and molecular profiling are needed to clarify these relationships.