Published on 08/02/2012
A new study has shown that men who smoke suffer a faster cognitive decline than their non-smoking counterparts, suggesting that lighting up is bad for the brain.
Male smokers suffer faster cognitive decline
Researchers at University College London analysed data on 5,099 men and 2,137 women, all of whom participated in the Whitehall II study.
Participants were around 56 years of age at the start of the study, and underwent three cognitive assessments over a 10 year period. They also provided information on their smoking status over 25 years.
The researchers found that male smokers tended to show more rapid cognitive decline than non-smokers. Men who smoked throughout the follow-up period experienced a greater degree of cognitive decline at each of the assessments.
Whilst men who gave up smoking during the 10 years before the first cognitive test were still at risk, those who had given up a long time ago did not show faster cognitive decline.
However, a similar link was not revealed between smoking and mental decline in female smokers.
Writing in the archives of General Psychiatry Journal online, lead author Severine Sabia of University College London said: "While we were aware that smoking is a risk factor for lung diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, this study shows also its detrimental effect on cognitive ageing. This detrimental effect is evident as soon as (age) 45."
"Intermittent smokers showed the same cognitive decline as persistent smokers, showing the importance of definitive smoking cessation."
People with private medical insurance are rewarded by some insurers for giving up smoking- PruHealth customers will be given a discount on stop-smoking sessions. Compare health insurance now to kick-start your healthy lifestyle.
© ActiveQuote Health Ltd. 2012
Categories: Health
Related Health Insurance News Articles
14/05/2012Use Waist to Height Ratio to predict your risk of diabetes, not BMIWaist to Height Ratio is a better predictor of heart disease and diabetes risk than body mass index (BMI), according to new research. British scientists analysed a team of 300,000 people, and found that Waist...
14/05/2012Five-a-day campaign failing to improve British dietOnly one in five people in the UK eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, according to a new poll. The YouGov survey of more than 2,000 UK adults, carried out for the World Cancer Research...
15/05/2012Cancer deaths fall to lowest record level for people in their 50sThe number of people dying from cancer in their 50’s has fallen to its lowest record level. Figures from Cancer Research UK show a 40 per cent drop in cancer deaths among 50 to 59 year olds. Now, 185 in...
17/05/2012Experts advise 20 per cent fat tax on sugary drinks to help UK obesity crisisExperts at Oxford University have recommended a 20 per cent fat tax on sugary drinks to help with the UK’s obesity crisis. A recent study published in the Lancet Journal warned that almost half of British men...
23/05/2012Macmillan Cancer Support reveals the true financial cost of cancer diagnosisA survey by Macmillan Cancer Support has revealed that people are often unprepared for the financial cost of cancer. Research by Macmillan Cancer Support has shown that the average cancer patient in Wales...