Quitting smoking may help protect brain health and lower dementia risk, according to new research published by the American Academy of Neurology. The study tracked participants over roughly two years, monitoring their smoking status, weight, and cognitive function through regular memory and thinking tests.
Key Findings
People who continued smoking developed dementia at a rate of 1.5 cases per 100,000 person-years, compared to 1.6 cases per 100,000 person-years for those who quit. Those who quit smoking had a 16% lower risk of dementia compared with those who kept smoking. The benefit from quitting increased over time: people who had stopped smoking about seven years ago showed a dementia risk similar to people who never smoked.
Post-Quitting Weight Matters
The study revealed that weight changes after quitting smoking significantly influenced brain health outcomes. People who gained 11 pounds or less after stopping smoking continued to show a lower dementia risk. However, people who gained 22 pounds or more did not experience this reduced risk.
“Our findings suggest that quitting smoking may support long-term brain health, but they also highlight that what happens after quitting matters,” said Hui Chen, dean of psychological and behavioral sciences at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China. Chen noted that controlling other lifestyle factors alongside weight management can help people maximize cognitive benefits of quitting smoking as they age.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/quitting-smoking-might-lower-your-dementia-risk-83671960