15. Smoking – The Smoky Assassin
Last on our list, but certainly not the least, is smoking. Despite its widely recognized impacts on lung health and strong association with diseases like cancer and heart disease, its significant role as a risk factor for dementia is often overlooked.
Smoking harms nearly every organ in our bodies, and the brain is no exception. It can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can damage brain cells and are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, smoking can exacerbate other health conditions like hypertension and heart disease, which, as discussed earlier, can indirectly increase the risk of dementia.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The silver lining is that quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of dementia.
While quitting smoking is undoubtedly challenging, numerous resources are available to help individuals quit. Nicotine replacement therapies, medications, counseling, and behavioural strategies can all be effective in overcoming this unhealthy habit. The journey may be tough, but the potential rewards in terms of reduced dementia risk make it worthwhile. (15)
