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Smoking’s harm to the heart and lungs is well-known, but its impact on the brain is often overlooked. A recent study indicates that stopping smoking, even in midlife or beyond, can significantly reduce the rate of cognitive decline.
Research indicates that smokers typically score lower on cognitive tests. Quitting smoking improves brain function by enhancing cognitive abilities, such as focus, mental agility, and recall, while also reducing the heightened dementia risk.
Earlier studies showed that quitting smoking early in life can mitigate cognitive impairments, with former smokers achieving cognitive scores similar to those who never smoked. The recent study investigated whether quitting smoking later in life yields comparable cognitive benefits.
The study included data from over 9,000 participants, all over 40 years of age and from 12 nations. They paired former smokers with current smokers, aligning them by baseline cognitive performance, gender, age, educational background, and country of origin.
The findings revealed that individuals who quit smoking experienced a 20% reduction in memory decline. Additionally, their verbal fluency declined at approximately half the rate compared to those who continued smoking.
Many older adults may feel that quitting smoking after decades is pointless, but this study powerfully demonstrates that stopping even later in life significantly slows cognitive decline, offering a compelling reason to break the habit at any age.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Cognitive decline before and after mid-to-late-life smoking cessation: a longitudinal analysis of prospective cohort studies from 12 countries
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