Quitting smoking could offer a major benefit beyond heart and lung health, study finds
Those who quit smoking can reduce smoking risk of developing dementia Later in life, according to new research.
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 lower risk of dementia compared to people who continue 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.
Benefits were greatest in people who gained little or no weight after quitting.
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“Our findings suggest that quitting smoking may help in the long term brain healthBut they also emphasize that what happens after you quit smoking is important, lead researcher Hui Chen said in a statement.
The reduction in dementia risk was most pronounced among people who gained little or no weight after quitting smoking.
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.”
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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.
Improvements in circulation, reduced inflammation and better cardiovascular health It may help preserve cognitive functions later in life, according to Fadul.
“Every year spent tobacco-free is a step towards reducing the risk of future 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, life style and environmental factors may also have influenced participants’ results.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers for further comment.
Original article source: Quitting smoking could have major benefits beyond heart and lung health, study finds
