British Study: Quitting Smoking May Slow Memory Decline

SadaNews - Smoking causes serious health damage, making quitting a pressing necessity.

Recently, a study concluded that quitting smoking, even at an advanced age, can help slow age-related memory problems.

According to experts, the findings of the study strengthen the evidence that quitting smoking may help prevent dementia, but they stressed that more research is needed, as reported by the British news agency "PA Media".

9436 people

In detail, a team from University College London examined the impact of smoking on age-related cognitive decline, where one's ability to think, learn, and remember deteriorates with age.

The study, published in the journal "Lancet Healthy Longevity," included data from 9436 individuals aged 40 and over from 12 countries.

Half of those surveyed had quit smoking, while the other half continued to smoke.

The researchers stated that there is a "persistent link between smoking and cognitive health", but the long-term benefits of quitting smoking are "less clear".

Analysis of tests measuring memory and verbal fluency showed that the performance of those who quit smoking declined more slowly over the six years following their cessation.

For smokers who quit, the decline was 20% slower for memory and 50% slower for verbal fluency.

Dr. Michaela Bloomberg, who works in the Department of Epidemiology and Healthcare at University College London, stated, "Our study suggests that quitting smoking may help maintain better cognitive health in the long term, even when quitting occurs at age fifty or older".

She also added: "We already know that quitting smoking in later life is often followed by improvements in physical health. This seems to apply to cognitive health as well."