A new study suggests that smoking could be a key factor in how quickly our thinking skills decline as we age. Researchers at University College London (UCL) analyzed data from 32,000 adults aged 50 and over across 14 European countries, tracking their cognitive abilities over a decade.
The study, published in Nature Communications, looked at how different lifestyle factors might affect cognitive decline in older adults. The researchers focused on behaviors like smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and social interaction.
Smoking Stands Out Among Lifestyle Factors
Participants took memory and verbal fluency tests to measure their cognitive function. The researchers then grouped them based on their lifestyle habits. They looked at whether people smoked, exercised regularly, socialized at least weekly, and drank moderately.
The results were striking. People who smoked showed faster cognitive decline compared to non-smokers. In fact, smokers’ cognitive scores declined up to 85% more over 10 years than those of non-smokers.
Interestingly, smokers who maintained healthy habits in other areas – regular exercise, moderate drinking, and frequent socializing – showed cognitive decline rates similar to non-smokers.
Hope for Smokers Who Can’t Quit
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