risk of dementia
This analysis presented in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology confirms the association between smoking and a high risk of dementia. But, more interestingly, it also assesses the reduction in risk as a function of the duration of smoking cessation. A large study which therefore confirms, in a more positive way, that stopping smoking, provided it is long-term, can reduce the risk. So it's never too late.
This is a cohort study that followed 46,140 men aged 60 for 8 years as part of the Korean national screening program from 2002 to 2013. The analysis therefore takes into account changes in smoking habits and divided its participants into continuous smokers, short-term repentant smokers (less than 4 years), long-term repentant smokers (4 years and more) and “never smokers”. The analysis shows that vs continuous smokers,
participants who quit long-term and non-smokers were at lower risk of dementia, with a respective risk reduction of 14 and 29%.
non (never) smokers also have an 18% reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease vs continuous smokers;
people who have quit smoking and non-smokers, a reduced risk of vascular dementia, respectively by 38 and 29%.
Smoking damage and its devastating health effects extend to almost every organ of the body, as smoking causes one in five deaths from cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, quitting smoking reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases and can add years to a person's life.
The effects of smoking on the heart and blood vessels
Smoking poses a major health risk to the heart, circulatory system, and blood vessels, as smoking causes one in four deaths due to vascular diseases. The effects of smoking on the heart include:
- Stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death.
- Damage to blood vessels, as smoking makes them thicker and narrower, which leads to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis results in an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. In addition, damage to blood vessels can lead to clot formation, which can be fatal.
- Cardiovascular disease, which may lead to heart attack and death.
- Peripheral vascular stenosis and occlusion, which results in reduced blood flow to the legs and extremities. In some cases, decreased blood flow to the extremities can lead to amputation of an affected limb.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm, which may lead to rupture of the affected area of the artery and, in some cases, death.
- The harm of smoking is not limited to the smoker only, but also extends to the surrounding people who are exposed to cigarette smoke (passive smoking), causing vascular diseases and death.
- The effect of smoking on the heart and blood vessels increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the number of years since the start of smoking. However, even people who smoke less than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.
- It is worth noting that the risk of cardiovascular disease does not decrease when the nicotine and tar content of cigarettes is reduced.
- However, there remains an opportunity to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in the event of quitting smoking, as the positive results begin to appear almost immediately, and within a year of quitting, the risk of cardiac arrest decreases significantly.
But within five years of quitting, the risk of stroke drops to the same rates as non-smokers.
The effects of smoking on the lungs and respiratory system
The devastating effects of smoking start from the first moment of inhalation, until it enters the respiratory tract and absorbs its components into the lungs. Tobacco smoking is responsible for 90% of deaths from lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, smoking can have the following effects on the respiratory system:
- Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging the small airways and alveoli in the lungs of smokers. Smoking also damages lung tissue in the long run, which causes the tissue to lose its elasticity and ability to exchange gases efficiently.
- Lung diseases caused by smoking include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
- Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer, and it also increases the risk of respiratory cancers, such as throat and sinus cancer.
- Tobacco smoke can trigger asthma attacks in sufferers, or make attacks worse.
- Smokers are 22 times more likely to die of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for women and 26 times for men than non-smokers.
- Cigarette smoking increases the risk of microbial infection in the respiratory tract.
- Smoking increases the risk of infection with tuberculosis, and smokers are more likely to re-infection with tuberculosis after recovery than non-smokers, and more likely to die from complications of the disease.
- Cigarette smoking during adolescence slows the growth of the lungs, causing the lungs to not fully develop in adults.
- The devastating health impact of inhaling tobacco smoke extends to non-smokers as well, with the number of lung cancer deaths resulting from passive smoking reaching about 7,000 deaths annually.
- Exposure of children to tobacco smoke through secondhand smoke leads to asthma and microbial infections.
It is worth noting that the high risk of lung disease resulting from smoking does not mean it is too late. Quitting smoking helps reduce the risk of lung cancer, coughing, and improves the sense of smell and taste.
Effects of smoking on cancer
Tobacco cigarettes contain many substances that are carcinogenic and harmful to the body, which are not only concentrated in the lungs, but also spread through the blood to all parts of the body. These carcinogens cause changes in the DNA that may lead to the development of cancerous cells in the body.
Smoking can cause cancer in any of the organs in your body, as the harms of smoking include its association with about 15 types of cancer, including:
- Bladder Cancer.
- blood cancer.
- Cervical cancer.
- Colon and rectal cancer.
- stomach cancer.
- esophageal cancer.
- Kidney and ureteral cancer.
- Throat Cancer.
- Liver Cancer.
- Cancer of the oropharynx (includes parts of the larynx, tongue, soft palate, and tonsils).
- Pancreas cancer.
- Bronchial and lung cancer.
The amount of increase in the risk of cancer from smoking depends on the number of years of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked, but the number of years of smoking has a greater effect on increasing the risk of cancer than the number of cigarettes. Quitting smoking helps reduce the chances of developing cancer in smokers.
The effects of smoking on the central nervous system
One of the components of tobacco is a mood-altering substance called nicotine. Nicotine reaches your brain in just a few seconds and makes you feel energized for a while. But as this effect wears off, you feel tired and feel more tempted to smoke. We summarize the following, the harms of smoking on the central nervous system because it contains nicotine, as follows:
- Nicotine is the reason for acquiring the habit of smoking. This is why people find it difficult to quit smoking.
- Increased levels of nicotine in the body resulting from smoking increases the number of nicotine receptors within the brain, resulting in withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking.
- Physical withdrawal from nicotine can cause impaired cognitive performance as well as feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression. Trying to quit can cause headaches and sleep problems.
- Cigarette smoking leads to a higher risk of anxiety than non-smokers.
- Smoking is strongly associated with clinical depression, due to its negative effect on the hormones dopamine and serotonin.
- Some studies suggest that smokers may be more likely to develop dementia.
- Smoking affects neurotransmitters responsible for learning and mental abilities, which can affect the cognitive abilities of smokers.
The effects of smoking on the reproductive system
The harms of smoking include the reproductive system, as nicotine affects blood flow to the genital areas of both men and women, which may affect sexual functions in several ways, including:
- Impairment of sexual performance in men.
- Increased chances of impotence in men.
- Damage to the genetic material inside the sperm, which may lead to infertility or deformities in the fetuses.
- Sexual dissatisfaction in women by reducing slippage and the ability to reach orgasm.
- Difficulty in female pregnancy and the birth of a healthy fetus.
- Early menopause in women, which is linked to a higher chance of heart disease.
- Reducing levels of sex hormones in men and women, and this can lead to decreased libido.
The effects of smoking on the digestive system
Smoking negatively affects and causes harm to all parts of the body, including the effects of smoking on the digestive system. There is an association between smoking and many diseases of the digestive system, and these negative effects include the following:
- Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus. Smokers also have higher rates of pancreatic cancer, and even people who "smoke but don't sniff" have a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
- Smoking also increases rates of liver, colon and anal cancer.
- Smoking increases the incidence of Cushing Syndrome, colon polyps that may develop into cancerous tumors, pancreatitis, and gallstones.
- Smoking also affects the hormone insulin, as it increases the possibility of developing insulin resistance, and this puts you at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its complications, which develop at a faster rate in smokers than in non-smokers.
- Smoking increases the incidence of GERD, heartburn, and stomach ulcers.
In contrast, quitting smoking has positive health effects on the digestive system, such as:
- Quitting smoking helps restore balance between the processes that protect or damage the stomach lining and the lining of the intestine.
- Quitting smoking helps relieve the symptoms of some gastrointestinal diseases.
However, the risk of developing some digestive diseases remains high even after quitting smoking, such as colon polyps and pancreatitis.
Is dementia preventable through lifestyle?
Dementia cannot yet be prevented or cured, but the choices you make in midlife can help to keep your brain healthy as you age. Research shows that those who adopt a 'brain healthy' lifestyle have a reduced risk of dementia in later life.
Is 40% of dementia preventable?
In the July 6 JAMA Open, researchers led by Mark Lee, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, attributed 41 percent of dementia cases to 12 modifiable lifestyle factors. Obesity, high blood pressure, and lack of exercise accounted for the lion's share.
How much dementia is preventable?
It's been estimated that one in three cases of dementia is preventable. You can't do anything right now to stop or reverse the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, but you can do something about hypertension and vascular disease risk factors.
Why are so many people getting dementia?
Ageing is a risk factor for dementia because dementia can take a long time to develop. This is because dementia is caused by diseases that damage the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular disease. It can take these diseases many years to damage the brain enough to cause the symptoms of dementia.
What happens when you stop smoking?
Stopping smoking not only improves your physical health but also is proven to boost your mental health and wellbeing. Quitting can improve mood, and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
Does smoking affect intelligence?
Summary: Smokers often say that smoking a cigarette helps them concentrate and feel more alert. But years of tobacco use may have the opposite effect, dimming the speed and accuracy of a person's thinking ability and bringing down their IQ, according to a new study. ANN ARBOR, Mich.
How long do cigarette withdrawals last?
They are usually worst during the first week after quitting, peaking during the first 3 days. From that point on, the intensity of symptoms usually drops over the first month. However, everyone is different, and some people have withdrawal symptoms for several months after quitting (3, 4).
What are the 3 foods that fight memory loss?
What are the foods that fight memory loss? Berries, fish, and leafy green vegetables are 3 of the best foods that fight memory loss. There's a mountain of evidence showing they support and protect brain health.
What is the best treatment for dementia?
Donepezil (also known as Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl) are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil is also used to treat more severe Alzheimer's disease.
What lifestyle causes dementia?
An unhealthy diet, high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt, can increase the risk of developing many illnesses, including dementia and cardiovascular disease.
What habits cause dementia?
For example, smoking, obesity, and excessive use of alcohol are all risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Can stress cause dementia?
The current evidence indicates that while chronic stress may play a role in the development or progression of dementia, it does not necessarily cause dementia. Hopefully, further research can begin to uncover what role stress plays in a person's risk of developing dementia.
Does smoking reduce cognitive function?
In men, compared with never smokers, current smokers had a greater 10-year decline in global cognition (mean difference in decline = −0.09; 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.03) and executive function (−0.11; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.05). This effect size was similar to the effect of 10 years of age on cognitive decline.
Does smoking improve cognitive function?
There are different neurobiological mechanisms involved in acute/chronic smoking and nicotine abstinence. Smoking reinforcement could be due to the initial cognitive improvement, that is, individuals can learn that smoking temporarily increases cognitive functioning (improving some components of attention and memory).
How does smoking affect your brain?
We found that smokers had a thinner cerebral cortex than non-smokers – in other words, smoking was destroying the grey matter in smokers. This is important because the cerebral cortex is a part of the brain that is crucial for thinking skills including memory and learning, so thicker is better.
Can quitting smoking cause memory loss?
Nicotine withdrawal is associated with deficits in neurocognitive function including sustained attention, working memory, and response inhibition.
Does smoking reduce memory?
Smokers' working memory ability and cognitive efficiency are significantly lower than non-smokers, so people should pay attention to smoking and memory impairment [26]. However, some researchers find that working memory and ability of the short-term smokers were improved compared to that of the non-smokers .
How does smoking improve memory?
Nicotine can activate PDE-5, TRβ and CaMKII, and activation of these proteins can lead to increased neuronal communication that ultimately improves memory function.
What is the biggest risk factor for dementia?
The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's and other dementias is increasing age, but these disorders are not a normal part of aging. While age increases risk, it is not a direct cause of Alzheimer's. Most individuals with the disease are 65 and older.
Which of the following can reduce the risk of dementia?
Physical activity. Doing regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia. It's good for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing.
Does smoking reduce risk of Alzheimer?
Cigarette smoking has been linked with both increased and decreased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Does smoking increase risk of dementia?
Using reliable study approaches, recent research estimates that current smokers have a 30 percent to 75 percent greater risk for developing dementia when compared with nonsmokers. One analysis of this data suggests that 14 percent of Alzheimer's disease cases can be attributed to smoking.
Does smoking reduce risk of dementia?
There is strong evidence that smoking can increase your risk of dementia. Not everyone who smokes will get dementia, but stopping smoking is thought to reduce your risk down to the level of non-smokers.
