Study links quitting smoking to lower dementia risk over 25-year period
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According to new research, the risk of developing dementia in later ages may decrease in people who quit smoking.
A team of researchers at a university in China analyzed data from more than 32,000 adults over a 25-year period and found that former smokers had a lower risk of dementia compared to those who continued to smoke.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology.
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During the study period, researchers documented 5,868 cases of dementia.
Participants who quit smoking during the study had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia than current smokers. Their risks were similar to those who had quit smoking before the study started and those who had never smoked.
New research suggests that quitting smoking may reduce the chance of developing dementia later in life. (iStock)
The researchers also found that the risk of dementia continues to decline as long as the person is a non-smoker, approaching the risk of a never-smoker after about seven years.
The benefits appeared strongest among people who gained little or no weight after quitting smoking.
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“Our findings show that quitting smoking may support brain health in the long term, but also highlight that what happens after quitting is also important,” lead researcher Hui Chen said in a statement. he said.
The reduction in dementia risk was most pronounced among people who gained little or no weight after quitting smoking. (iStock)
The findings add to growing evidence that quitting smoking may help protect long-term brain health, said Zaid Fadul, a Harvard-trained physician and chief medical officer of Bespoke Concierge MD, who was not involved in the research.
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“The main takeaway is that the brain benefits from smoking cessation at almost every stage,” Fadul told Fox News Digital. he said.
“Smoking contributes to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to blood vessels that supply the brain, all of which are associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia.”
Fadul said the findings should encourage smokers who think it’s too late to quit.
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“Importantly, it is rarely ‘too late’ to quit,” he said.
“While quitting smoking early provides the greatest benefit, the body and brain begin to heal immediately after quitting.”
Experts say that it is almost never too late to quit smoking because the body and brain begin to heal immediately after quitting, but quitting early provides the greatest health benefits. (iStock)
Improvements in circulation, reduced inflammation, and better cardiovascular health may help preserve cognitive function later in life, according to Fadul.
“Every year spent tobacco-free is a step towards reducing future risk of dementia and improving overall health,” he said.
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Although the findings are encouraging, the study has limitations.
Researchers found an association between quitting smoking and a lower risk of dementia, but the study was not designed to prove that quitting smoking directly prevents the condition.
Other health, lifestyle, and environmental factors may also have affected participants’ results.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers for further comment.
