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Effect of smoking on global cognitive function in nondemented elderly
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Drs. Hofman, Launer, Ott, and Stijnen), Erasmus University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
Neurology
|March 24, 2004
Summary
Smoking accelerates cognitive decline in the elderly. Current smokers experienced a faster decline in cognitive function compared to never smokers, indicating a significant risk associated with smoking.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Early studies suggested smoking protected against Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Recent research indicates elderly smokers may face an increased dementia risk.
- This study investigates the prospective impact of smoking on cognitive function in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the effect of smoking on cognitive decline in nondemented elderly individuals.
- To quantify the association between smoking status and cognitive decline over time.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter cohort study (EURODEM) involving 17,610 individuals aged 65+.
- Follow-up of 11,003 nondemented participants over an average of 2.3 years.
- Analysis of 9,209 participants, comparing yearly Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score decline adjusted for covariates.
Main Results:
- Never smokers' MMSE scores declined by 0.03 points/year.
- Former smokers showed a 0.03 points/year greater decline; current smokers showed a 0.13 points/year greater decline (p < 0.001).
- Higher pack-year exposure correlated with a significantly greater rate of cognitive decline.
Conclusions:
- Smoking may accelerate cognitive decline in the elderly.
- Findings suggest a detrimental effect of smoking on cognitive aging.
- This highlights the importance of smoking cessation for maintaining cognitive health in older adults.