Smoking and dementia

The facts on smoking and dementia 

Lung cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other well-known diseases are caused by smoking cigarettes, but few people are aware that smoking cigarettes increases your risk of developing dementia.

Smokers in London are being urged to give quitting a go, as research shows those who smoke are more likely to develop dementia.

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia is the most feared health condition for people over the age of 55 – more than any other life-threatening disease including cancer and diabetes.

Yet YouGov data commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed 17% of Londoners who smoke know that smoking increases the risk of dementia, compared to 77% who know that smoking causes lung diseases or cancers.

Smoking raises the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain.

Studies also suggest that quitting smoking reduces this risk substantially, and smoking has been identified as one of twelve risk factors that if eliminated entirely, could collectively prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.

Is dementia caused by smoking cigarettes?

In a recent scientific study conducted by The Lancet in 2020, research showed that smoking raises the risk of people developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain. 

Other studies suggest that smokers who quit smoking can reduce the risk of developing dementia considerably. Smoking has been identified as one of twelve risk factors that if eliminated entirely, could collectively prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.

​​People who adopt a healthy lifestyle are less likely to develop dementia.

Does smoking cause vascular dementia?

Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia caused by interrupted blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain that ultimately, damages blood vessels in the brain.

Vascular dementia refers to changes to memory, thinking, and behaviour resulting from conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain. Cognition and brain function can be significantly affected by the size, location, and number of vascular changes.

Smoking can be associated to increasing your risk of developing vascular dementia. Smoking not only damages your blood vessels, it increases your risk of atherosclerosis and other circulatory diseases.

With the free expert help and ongoing support offered by our telephone helpline advisers or your local Stop Smoking Service, you’re three times as likely to quit successfully and reduce your risk of developing dementia.