Quitting Smoking at Any Age Benefits Brain Health, Study Finds
Stopping smoking, even in middle age or later life, can considerably protect cognitive function and slow down age-related mental decline, according to new research from University College London. Teh study,analyzing data from over 4,700 smokers and non-smokers,demonstrates a clear benefit to brain health from cessation.
Researchers compared individuals who successfully quit smoking to a comparable group who continued to smoke, carefully matching participants based on country of birth, gender, age, and education level – with an average age of 58 years. Participants underwent regular cognitive testing, assessing both memory and verbal skills, for a period spanning six years before and after the quit date for half the group.
The results revealed a crucial difference in cognitive trajectories. While both groups experienced a natural decline in test scores before participants quit, the rate of decline slowed considerably for those who stopped smoking. Specifically, memory test scores decreased 20% more slowly in former smokers, and scores related to word skills declined at half the rate. This difference accumulated over time, suggesting that quitting can effectively postpone years of cognitive impairment.
This protective effect is linked to the known damaging effects of smoking on the brain. Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing oxygen supply to brain tissue. It also triggers chronic inflammation and oxidative stress – a process where unstable molecules damage brain cells.Fortunately, the research suggests that much of this damage can be halted or reversed upon smoking cessation.
The findings corroborate previous research indicating that individuals who quit smoking earlier in life exhibit brain health comparable to those who never smoked. Earlier studies also showed that ex-smokers, after at least ten years of abstinence, face a similar risk of developing dementia as non-smokers. This new study adds weight to the idea that the benefits of quitting are sustained.
“This is notably critically importent as older and middle-aged smokers are frequently enough less motivated to quit, despite being disproportionately affected by smoking’s harms,” explains Mikaela Bloomberg, lead author of the study. “Demonstrating a clear cognitive benefit could provide a powerful new incentive for this group.”
While the study provides strong evidence, researchers acknowledge certain limitations. As an observational study, it cannot definitively prove that quitting smoking directly caused the improved cognitive outcomes. It’s possible that unmeasured lifestyle factors - such as adopting other healthy habits alongside quitting – also contributed to the results. Moreover, despite careful matching, subtle differences between the groups cannot be entirely ruled out.
Despite these caveats, the research reinforces the message that it’s never too late to benefit from quitting smoking, particularly when it comes to preserving cognitive health.
