Most of us think of age, family history, or genetics when we worry about Alzheimer’s disease. Very few of us look at the walls around us and wonder whether our own home might be quietly raising that risk. Yet Utah health experts are now urging residents to test for radon—an invisible, odorless gas that can seep into homes—because newer research is exploring whether long-term exposure to certain environmental conditions, including radon, may influence cognitive health.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the things you’re “supposed” to do to protect your brain, you’re not alone. The good news is that radon testing is relatively simple, inexpensive, and gives you concrete information you can act on—not just for lung health, but potentially for your long-term brain health as well.

Utah home with mountains in the background while a radon test is being discussed
Utah experts are encouraging households to test for radon, an invisible gas that may affect long-term health.
“We’ve known for years that radon is a major cause of lung cancer. Now we’re asking whether long-term exposure might also influence brain health, including Alzheimer’s risk. Testing your home is a simple first step.” — Summary of Utah public health experts’ guidance

What You’ll Learn About Radon and Alzheimer’s Risk

In this article, we’ll walk through:

  • What radon is and why Utah homes are at particular risk
  • How scientists are exploring possible links between environmental exposures and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Simple, step-by-step guidance on how to test your home for radon
  • What to do if your radon levels are high
  • How radon fits into the larger picture of protecting your cognitive health

What Is Radon, and Why Are Utah Experts Concerned?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas created when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. You can’t see, smell, or taste it. It moves up through the ground and can enter your home through:

  • Cracks in foundations and basement floors
  • Gaps around pipes and utility lines
  • Sump pits and crawl spaces
  • Construction joints and unfinished areas

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause in non-smokers. Utah, with its unique geology and many basements, has areas where radon levels are more likely to be elevated, which is why local health departments regularly encourage residents to test their homes.

Radon can build up in lower levels of homes, especially in basements and tightly sealed houses.

Utah experts highlighted by KSL.com are now also drawing attention to emerging research that looks at how long-term exposure to environmental toxins—including radon—may interact with our brain over decades.


Could Radon Exposure Affect Alzheimer’s Risk?

Alzheimer’s disease is complex. Age, genetics (like the APOE ε4 gene), cardiovascular health, and lifestyle factors (sleep, activity, diet) all play roles. Over the last decade, scientists have also begun exploring how environmental factors—air pollution, heavy metals, and possibly radon—may influence brain aging.

Some observational studies have found associations between long-term exposure to air pollutants and higher rates of cognitive decline or dementia. Research specifically on radon and Alzheimer’s is more limited and still evolving. Early work has suggested:

  • People living in regions with higher environmental radiation (including radon) may show higher mortality from some neurological diseases, but findings are not consistent.
  • Chronic exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation could, in theory, affect the brain through mechanisms like oxidative stress and vascular damage—both relevant in Alzheimer’s—but this has not been conclusively proven in human populations.
Current evidence suggests a possible link between certain environmental exposures and dementia risk, but it is too early to say that radon directly causes Alzheimer’s disease. Testing and mitigation should be prioritized for their clear benefits in reducing lung cancer risk, with potential added advantages for overall brain health.

In short, scientists are asking important questions, but they don’t have all the answers yet. Utah experts’ message is cautious and practical: don’t panic, but do take radon seriously enough to test.


A Real-Life Example: “We Tested for Our Lungs, but We’re Glad We Did It for Our Brains Too”

A Utah family (let’s call them the Andersons) shared their experience with a local health educator. They had never heard of radon until they picked up a $10 test kit at a community event. They assumed their newer home was “safe enough.”

When the results came back, their radon level was just over the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. At first, they were mainly worried about lung cancer. Then, after hearing about new research into environmental risks and cognitive health, they felt even more relieved they had caught the issue early.

They eventually installed a mitigation system that reduced levels to below 1.0 pCi/L. The process cost money and required coordinating with contractors, but they described the outcome as “one big unknown off our minds”—for both cancer risk and potential long-term brain health.


How to Test Your Home for Radon: Step-by-Step

Testing your home for radon is straightforward and can usually be done without hiring a professional. Here’s a practical roadmap:

  1. Choose a test type.
    • Short-term tests (2–7 days): Good for a quick snapshot, often used initially.
    • Long-term tests (90+ days): Provide a more accurate average over time, especially helpful in areas with seasonal changes.
  2. Get a test kit.
    • Check your state or county health department website—Utah often offers low-cost or discounted kits.
    • Look for tests labeled as “EPA-listed” or meeting national standards.
  3. Place the test correctly.
    • Use the lowest level of the home where people spend >4 hours/day (often a basement or first floor).
    • Keep it away from drafts, high-heat areas, and exterior walls.
    • Follow the instructions carefully—this helps ensure valid results.
  4. Send the kit for analysis.
    • Most kits include prepaid mailers; send it promptly when the test period ends.
    • Results are usually available within a few days to a couple of weeks.
  5. Interpret your results.
    • Below 2.0 pCi/L: Generally considered low, though lower is always better.
    • 2.0–3.9 pCi/L: Consider long-term testing or mitigation, especially if spending lots of time on lower levels.
    • 4.0 pCi/L or higher: EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon.
Homeowner placing a radon test kit in a basement living area
Radon test kits are inexpensive, simple to use, and can give you clear guidance on next steps.

What If Your Radon Levels Are High?

A high radon result can feel scary, but it doesn’t mean you need to move. It means you have information—and you can use it. Radon mitigation systems are designed to vent radon gas safely outside, typically using a pipe-and-fan setup.

Common steps include:

  • Sealing major cracks and openings in the foundation and basement floor
  • Installing a sub-slab depressurization system (a fan draws radon from below the home and vents it outdoors)
  • Improving ventilation in crawl spaces, if present
  • Retesting after installation to verify levels are reduced
A typical radon mitigation system uses a fan and vent pipe to safely move radon gas from beneath your home to the outside air.

Professional mitigation can often reduce radon levels by up to 80–99%. While it involves an upfront cost, many homeowners view it as an investment in both current and future health.


Before and After: A Simple Radon Mitigation Story

Consider a typical Utah home with a finished basement:

  • Before testing: The family spends evenings in the basement family room. They have no idea their radon level is 6.5 pCi/L—well above recommended limits.
  • After testing: A short-term test flags the issue. They follow up with a long-term test, confirming consistently high levels.
  • After mitigation: A certified contractor installs a sub-slab system. A follow-up test shows levels reduced to 0.9 pCi/L.
Family relaxing in a safe, well-mitigated living room
After mitigation, families can use lower levels of their homes more confidently, with reduced radon exposure.

While this doesn’t “guarantee” Alzheimer’s prevention—nothing does—it clearly reduces lung cancer risk and may lower one potential environmental stressor on brain and vascular health over a lifetime.


How Radon Fits into the Bigger Picture of Brain Health

Radon is one piece of a larger puzzle. Protecting your cognitive health means thinking about multiple, overlapping factors:

  • Heart and blood vessel health: Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and staying active.
  • Sleep and stress: Prioritizing regular, good-quality sleep and stress management.
  • Cognitive engagement: Learning new skills, social connection, and mentally stimulating activities.
  • Nutrition: Emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats (for example, Mediterranean-style patterns).
  • Environmental exposures: Limiting smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution when possible—and testing your home for radon.
Healthy lifestyle elements including walking, fresh food, and a clean home
Brain health is shaped by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental exposures—including the air inside your home.

Addressing radon doesn’t replace these other strategies, but it complements them. Think of it as removing one more “weight” from the scale that can tip toward disease over decades.


Common Obstacles—and How to Overcome Them

Many people avoid radon testing for very human reasons. If any of these sound familiar, you’re in good company:

  • “I don’t want to worry about something I can’t see.”
    Invisible risks feel abstract. Reframe testing as an empowering step: it turns an unknown into a clear number and a concrete plan.
  • “I’m afraid it will be expensive.”
    Test kits are typically inexpensive, and many communities offer discounts. Even mitigation costs can sometimes be offset by home value, health savings, or assistance programs.
  • “My house is new, so I must be fine.”
    Newer homes can sometimes have higher radon due to tighter construction. Age of the home alone isn’t a reliable indicator.
  • “I’m renting, so it’s not my responsibility.”
    Tenants have the right to safe housing. Share test results with your landlord; in many areas, there are guidelines or incentives for mitigation.

Where to Find Reliable Information and Help

For up-to-date, evidence-based guidance, rely on organizations that specialize in environmental health and dementia research. Examples include:

When you read headlines about radon and Alzheimer’s, remember to look for details: Does the article link to a scientific study? Does it clearly separate what’s known from what’s still being explored? Utah experts highlighted by KSL.com are careful to urge testing without exaggerating what we know about dementia risk.


Taking the Next Step: A Small Action with Long-Term Benefits

You can’t change your age or your genes—but you can change the air in your home.

While scientists continue to study how environmental exposures influence Alzheimer’s risk, you don’t have to wait for every answer before acting. Testing for radon is:

  • Relatively low-cost and low-effort
  • Strongly recommended to reduce lung cancer risk
  • A sensible step in a broader plan to protect your long-term brain and overall health

If you’re feeling a bit anxious after learning about radon, that’s understandable. Try channeling that concern into one clear action today:

  1. Look up your state or local health department’s radon program.
  2. Order or pick up a test kit.
  3. Put a reminder on your calendar to place the test this week.

Protecting your brain is a lifelong journey, built on many small decisions over time. Testing your home for radon is one of those decisions—quiet, practical, and potentially powerful. Your future self, and your family, may be deeply grateful you took this simple step.