Health officials in Ohio are warning about an increase in pneumonia cases in children. The state has seen 145 cases in kids aged 3 to 14 years old, and some are referring to the condition as “white lung syndrome,” or “white lung” pneumonia.

A bad bout with pneumonia can do more than mess with the lungs—it can also hasten cognitive decline and even the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. While the mechanisms at work in this double whammy remain obscure, scientists are zeroing in on a potential ...