25-Year Study Finds Lower Dementia Rates Among Those Who Quit Smoking

A study of more than 32,000 adults followed for 25 years found that participants who quit smoking had a lower risk of dementia than those who continued to smoke. Researchers documented 5,868 dementia cases during the period. The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

Former smokers showed risk levels similar to people who had never smoked. The risk continued to decline the longer participants remained smoke-free, approaching the level of never-smokers after about seven years. Benefits were strongest among those who gained little or no weight after quitting.

"Our findings suggest that quitting smoking may support long-term brain health, but they also highlight that what happens after quitting matters," lead researcher Hui Chen said in a statement. Zaid Fadul, a Harvard-trained physician and chief medical officer of Bespoke Concierge MD who was not involved in the research, said the findings add to evidence that quitting smoking can help protect long-term brain health.

"The key takeaway is that the brain appears to benefit from smoking cessation at virtually any stage," Fadul told Fox News Digital.

Fadul noted that smoking contributes to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to blood vessels that supply the brain. He said improvements in circulation, reduced inflammation and better cardiovascular health can help preserve cognitive function later in life. "it is rarely ‘too late’ to quit," Fadul said.

Fox News reported that the study identified an association between quitting smoking and lower dementia risk but was not designed to prove that ending smoking directly prevents the condition. Other health, lifestyle and environmental factors may have also influenced participants' outcomes. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for further comment.