Smoking may cause up to 85 per cent more decline in cognitive abilities like memory and speech as compared to non-smokers, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. UCL researchers conducted the study over 10 years and examined 32,000 adults (aged 50 or above) from 14 European countries.
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Research Findings
The research analysed a combination of four lifestyle factors including alcohol consumption, smoking, social interaction and physical activity and found that the rate of cognitive decline was mainly dependent on whether the participants were smokers. The only exception was smokers who had healthy habits in the other factors, which meant they exercised regularly, drank alcohol in moderation and socialized. The results of cognitive decline for this group were similar to that of non-smokers.
“Our findings suggest that among the healthy behaviors we examined, not smoking may be among the most important in terms of maintaining cognitive function,” said Mikaela Bloomberg, the lead author of the study.
She recommends for people who can’t quit smoking, “Engaging in other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption and being socially active may help offset adverse cognitive effects associated with smoking.”
Impact of Smoking
In India, tobacco is one of the major causes of death and diseases, leading to nearly 1.35 million deaths every year. Smoking is notoriously bad for your health, affecting every organ in the body and increasing risks of numerous diseases from cancer to cardiac issues.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that increases endorphins and dopamine levels but, over time the body builds a tolerance to it and more nicotine is needed to achieve the feel-good effect. The nicotine in cigarettes alters the circuits in the brain that a related to stress, learning, and self-restraint. So, it can lead to an addiction and withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability and strong cravings when one tries to quit.
Cognitive Decline
A major consequence that is often overlooked is the impact of smoking on cognitive health. As one gets older, cognitive decline naturally occurs, but smokers begin to experience it more rapidly. Symptoms could include: depression, hallucination, memory loss, confusions, anxiety and changes in personality.
Loss of Brain Volume
Studies show that smoking leads to more age-related volume loss in several regions of the brain. This causes a decline in cognitive functions.
Stroke
Tobacco contains over 7,000 harmful chemicals which enter the bloodstream and can harden the arteries and increase the risk of clots. When blood cannot flow smoothly to the brain, it can cause a stroke. Smoking is said to double the risk of such a stroke.
Dementia
Smoking increases the risk of dementia, a condition that results in severe decline in memory, thinking abilities, speech, judgment, and behavior. It increases vascular issues (problems with the heart and blood vessels) which are linked to the two most common forms of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Cancer
There are around 60 known cancer-causing substances in tobacco, and it is a leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer.
Can Quitting Help?
Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risks of many of these diseases and there is an almost immediate improvement in one’s health. Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, the heart rate slows down. Within 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood decrease. Within 3 months, there is improvement in lung functions and blood circulation and within a year the risk of having a heart attack gets halved. Within 5 to 15 years, the risk of a stroke reduces to that of a non-smoker.
