Photo: theguardian.com
Quitting smoking in middle age cuts dementia risk to levels of lifelong non-smokers.
Research shows that smoking cessation in middle age can reduce dementia risk to levels comparable to lifelong non-smokers, significantly improving cognition and memory retention.
- Smoking cessation in middle-aged individuals can halve the decline in verbal fluency and slow memory loss by 20%, according to a study involving 9,436 participants from England, the US, and 10 other European countries.
- The findings published in The Lancet highlight that those who quit smoking can match the cognitive health of lifelong non-smokers within 10 years, significantly impacting dementia rates.
- Conducted by researchers from University College London, this study emphasizes the importance of quitting smoking to potentially mitigate the effects of ageing on cognition and reduce risks of amnesia.
Why It Matters
This research underscores the critical role of lifestyle choices in cognitive health, suggesting that smoking cessation not only benefits immediate well-being but can also drastically lower long-term risks of dementia. Such findings could influence public health strategies aimed at reducing smoking rates and improving overall mental health outcomes.