It’s widely known that smoking cigarettes is really bad for your health. By now most are aware that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and yellow teeth, just to name a few, but a new study out of London shows that smoking actually rots your brain!
The research, by King’s College London, found that smoking tobacco is worse for your brain than having high blood pressure or being overweight.
The study examined 8,800 participants over the age of 50, and asked them to perform cognitive tests, such as learning new words or naming as many animals as they could in a minute. The researchers tested the participants again four years later, and again after eight years.
The results showed that the overall risk of a heart attack or stroke was “significantly associated with cognitive decline” with those at the highest risk showing the greatest decline.
It also said there was a “consistent association” between smoking and lower scores in the tests.
One of the researchers, Dr Alex Dregan, said: “Cognitive decline becomes more common with ageing and for an increasing number of people interferes with daily functioning and well-being.
Dr Simon Ridley, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Research has repeatedly linked smoking and high blood pressure to a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and this study adds further weight to that evidence.
Article by: Adam Camara
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20463363
http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/11/20/ageing.afs166.short?rss=1
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