Content provided in partnership with

Smoking cigarettes leads to cognitive decline

Cognitive decline in older adults is accelerated by smoking cigarettes, according to a March 23, 2004, news release from the Alzheimer's Association. According to a European study published in the March 23 edition of Neurology, smokers declined cognitively five times faster than people who never smoked. Former smokers also declined faster than people who never smoked, although not as fast as current smokers. Smoking appears to negatively affect cognitive health and may be associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Most Popular Articles in Health: Fuel your workout: exercisers who eat before they work out have more energy ...; Soothe a dry, itchy scalp: 5 easy expert solutions; Cocktails and calories: Beer, wine and liquor calories can really add up. ...; The sour truth about apple cider vinegar - evaluation of therapeutic use; The, six best supplements you've never heard of: these secret weapons can ...; More »

For 2.3 years, researchers followed 9,209 adults older than 65 years of age with no signs of dementia at the time the study began. They used the Mini-Mental State Examination to measure cognitive function. The maximum score possible was 30. On average, current smokers declined 0.16 points per year, former smokers 0.06 points per year, and nonsmokers 0.03 points per year. Although these results seem minor, in the bigger picture, they show that smoking is not good for cognitive health.

Brain Health: Another Reason Not to Smoke? (news release, Chicago: Alzheimer's Association, March 23, 2004) http://www.alz.org/News/04Q1/032304smoke.asp (accessed 30 March 2004).

Health Care Industry

Smoking cigarettes leads to cognitive decline

AORN Journal, June, 2004

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Sports

Most Popular Articles in Health

Most Popular Publications in Health