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Quitting Smoking Linked to Slower Cognitive Decline, Even Later in Life

New research ⁤suggests that​ stopping smoking, nonetheless of age,‍ is associated with a considerably‌ slower rate‌ of cognitive decline and may reduce the risk ⁤of dementia. A ⁤study analyzing data ‌from​ nearly 9,500 individuals across 12 countries found ample ⁣cognitive​ benefits for⁤ those who quit‍ smoking‌ compared to those ‌who continued.

Researchers at University Collage London (UCL) examined⁢ data collected over six​ years from participants ‍aged 40 and older (average age⁤ 58) in⁣ Spain,Austria,Germany,Sweden,the Netherlands,Italy,France,Denmark,Switzerland,Belgium,the united⁢ States,and​ the⁣ United Kingdom.‍ The study, published⁤ in the Lancet Healthy⁣ Longevity, compared cognitive performance between over 4,700 former smokers ⁢and a comparable group of current smokers, carefully matching⁣ participants ‌based on initial cognitive scores,⁢ age, gender, education, and country of origin.

Prior ⁢to⁢ cessation, both groups exhibited similar rates of ⁤decline in​ cognitive tests ‌measuring memory and verbal‍ fluency.However,after the former smokers quit,a clear divergence emerged. ‍ Over the following six years,those⁤ who had ⁣stopped smoking‍ experienced ‍a ‍50% slower rate of ⁢decline in verbal fluency and ⁢20% less​ memory loss compared to those who continued to smoke.This benefit was observed consistently ‍across participants from all represented⁣ countries.

Researchers translated ‌these findings into a practical timeframe, noting that ‍former smokers experienced the equivalent of three to​ four months less memory decline and six months less decline in verbal fluency for⁣ each year of aging, ​when compared to continuing smokers.

the study builds upon⁢ decades of established research demonstrating the⁢ detrimental‌ effects of smoking on​ brain health.‌ these effects are linked ​to both cardiovascular damage‍ – impacting blood ​flow to the brain -⁤ and the⁢ induction ​of⁤ chronic inflammation⁤ and‌ oxidative stress, processes‍ that can destroy neurons. While previous studies showed short-term ⁢cognitive improvements​ after quitting, this research confirms those benefits are sustained ​over time,‌ even ⁤for those who ⁢quit after age⁤ 50.

“We already knew that quitting smoking, ‍even in old age, brings improvements in physical health and well-being,” stated Mikaela‌ Bloomberg, a researcher at the UCL Institute ​of epidemiology and Health.​ “With this⁣ study, we see that this also helps ⁤maintain better cognitive health⁢ in the long term, so it’s never too late to quit.”

Andrew Steptoe, a UCL epidemiologist, ‌further emphasized the ⁤significance of the findings, noting that “slower cognitive decline is associated with a lower risk of dementia,” reinforcing the conclusion that quitting smoking ⁢represents a valuable preventative strategy against this disease.