Week of February 15 - February 21, 2009
The following video provides an overview of the new research just completed on second-hand smoke as a cause of dementias like Alzheimer's. The article below it and the links to other articles provide more depth, detail and facts.
Allow 15 seconds for video to load, then click the triangle to start.
New research in the British Medical Journal strongly suggests second-hand smoke exposure leads to dementias like Alzheimer's and other neurological problems. The results demonstrated an increased risk of as much as 44% for cognitive impairment when exposed to high levels of second-hand smoke. (Cognitive impairment is a symptom of dementia and "pre-dementia.")
Previous studies identified active smoking and second-hand smoking as risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. (See links at the end of this article.) However, this is the first large-scale study to so strongly and compellingly conclude that second-hand smoke exposure could lead to dementia and other neurological problems in adults.
The research, led by Dr Llewellyn, used saliva samples from nearly 5000 non-smoking adults over the age of 50. By measuring levels of cotinine (a by-product of nicotine) in their saliva and taking a detailed smoking history, the researchers were able to assess levels of exposure to second-hand smoke.
A range of neuropsychological tests were then used to assess aspects of brain function such as verbal memory (recalling words immediately and after a delay), numerical calculations, time orientation, and verbal fluency (naming as many animals as possible in one minute). These results were added together to provide a global score for cognitive function, and those whose scores were in the lowest 10 per cent were subsequently identified as suffering from cognitive impairment.
 |
| "Our results suggest that inhaling other people's smoke may damage the brain, impair cognitive functions such as memory, and make dementia more likely." |
From their results they concluded that exposure to second-hand smoke may be linked to an increased chance of developing cognitive impairment, including dementia. The authors proposed a number of possible explanations for why exposure to second-hand smoke may increase the odds of dementia, including an increased risk of heart disease and stroke which are known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Dr. Iain Lang from the Peninsula Medical School, who worked on the study, commented: "This is the first time that anyone has used biological measures of exposure to second-hand smoke to show that passive smoking is bad for the human brain. While the ban on smoking in public places has gone some way to mitigate this problem, there is still a risk from smoking at home. We hope that our findings will encourage smokers to change their behaviour in order to reduce the risk to others."
He added, "These findings are of enormous public health importance for two reasons. First, a lot of people smoke cigarettes and it's important that they are fully aware of the harm they do to themselves, and others, by smoking. Second, the rapidly growing numbers of older people in the population, and the escalating cost of caring for people with dementia and related problems, mean that it's crucial to identify and take action on factors that can reduce the risk of developing cognitive problems. Encouraging people to quit smoking – or not to take it up in the first place – may be one way to achieve this."
Dr Llewellyn, the University of Cambridge lead researcher, commented, "We have conducted the first study to examine the association between second-hand smoke exposure and cognitive impairment in elderly non-smokers.
"Our results suggest that inhaling other people's smoke may damage the brain, impair cognitive functions such as memory, and make dementia more likely. Given that passive smoking is also linked to other serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke, smokers should avoid lighting up near non-smokers. Our findings also support calls to ban smoking in public places."
SMOKING::
MORE ARTICLES ON THIS SITE
Ever hear, "We'll eat-up, drink-up, have a smoke now, and pay later?" Alzheimer's may be the "later". New research sharply associates drinking, smoking and cholestorol with Alzheimer's.
American brain health got better in the last decade. What can we learn about brain health from these statistics?
Researchers say that dementia is 30% more common in people with long exposures to secondhand smoke.
MORE INFORMATION:
The Peninsula Medical School is a joint entity of the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the NHS in the South West of England, and a partner of the Combined Universities in Cornwall. The Peninsula Medical School has created for itself an excellent national and international reputation for groundbreaking research in the areas of diabetes and obesity, neurological disease, child development and ageing, clinical education and health technology assessment.
ARTICLE SOURCES:
University of Cambridge
The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
By Peter Berger, Alzheimer's Weekly
Reviewed by
Dr. Boaz Ancselovic, MD, Geriatrician, Alzheimer's Weekly
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Alzheimer's Weekly LLC. All Rights Reserved.
« Back
|
