Smokers in London are being urged to give quitting a go ahead of No Smoking Day (8th March), as research shows those who smoke are more likely to develop dementia.
The annual awareness day encourages smokers to make a quit attempt and this year’s theme is ‘stopping smoking protects your brain health’.
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.[1]
Yet YouGov data [2] commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed that fewer than one in five (17%) of people in London 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 [3], particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain. [4]. Studies also suggest that quitting smoking reduces this risk substantially [5], 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.[3]
However, data from Alzheimer’s Research UK show only a third of UK adults know there are things they can do to help reduce their risk of dementia [1], and stopping smoking is one of them.
Tracy Parr, Programme Director London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London, said:
“Free help is available for anyone in London who wants to stop smoking. We know it is much easier to overcome tobacco dependence with expert support – you’re three times as likely to stop smoking successfully with help from your free service. For smokers thinking ‘Today is the day’, London’s dedicated digital and free telephone programme Stop Smoking London can also help you find local face to face services to help you achieve your goal of being smoke free.”
Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, a neuroscientist and dementia prevention expert based at Imperial College London, said:
“If you smoke, quitting is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect both your heart and your brain. It really can be life-changing.
“Many people know that smoking affects the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of conditions like high blood pressure and stroke. But fewer realise that these conditions, in turn, increase the risk of dementia, or that the chemicals in cigarette smoke can speed up the natural ageing of the brain.
“It’s fantastic that brain health is the theme of No Smoking Day 2023. Initiatives like this are so important in raising awareness of the steps we can take to help keep the brain healthy.”
