Quitting Smoking May Reduce Dementia Risk

Quitting Smoking May Reduce Dementia Risk

Source: Fox News

Summary

A new study published in the journal Neurology found that quitting smoking may reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 32,000 adults over a 25-year period and found that former smokers had a lower risk of dementia compared to current smokers. The risk continued to decline the longer a person remained smoke-free, approaching that of never-smokers after about seven years. The benefits were strongest among people who gained little or no weight after quitting.


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The advice sounds familiar.

This study adds to the growing evidence that quitting smoking can help protect long-term brain health. The findings suggest that quitting smoking may support long-term brain health, but what happens after quitting matters. The brain appears to benefit from smoking cessation at virtually any stage. The key takeaway is that it is rarely “too late” to quit, and every year without tobacco is a step toward lowering future dementia risk and improving overall health. The study’s findings are encouraging, but it’s essential to note that the study was not designed to prove that ending smoking directly prevents dementia.

The recommendation enters another phase: quitting smoking is not just good for your lungs, but also for your brain.


Author: Evan Null