Live Life Team
The most well-known risk of smoking is the chance of developing cancer, but cigarette smoking can cause many other health risks like Alzheimer’s disease. This is an incurable disease of the brain that has a devastating effect on memory.
Smokers who are over the age of 55 are at a 50 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than smoke-free people. The reason is that smoking increases the chances of cerebrovascular disease and oxidative stress. This leads to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. All of these conditions are directly linked to Alzheimer’s.
One of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is brain tangles, or a build-up of proteins inside the neurons of the brain. Because of the brain tangles, there is a higher chance of blood clots, damage to arteries, and risk of stroke.
Smoking is also one of the most important preventable risk factors for dementia. People who smoke at least a pack of cigarettes a day are at risk of developing dementia several years earlier than those who don’t smoke.
The rate of mental decline characteristic of both diseases is related to the number of years the person smoked. Studies have shown that if heavy smoking is eliminated, the onset of Alzheimer’s could be postponed for several years.
Quitting smoking may postpone the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to develop a cessation plan as soon as possible. A physician will be able to help decide the best options and avenues to take. She may be able to prescribe the necessary medications to help the patient quit smoking.
As is the case with any sudden change, people at risk for these mental diseases and those with other known health problems, should wean themselves off of nicotine slowly and under a doctor’s care.
