New Report Shows Smoking Boosts Alzheimer’s Risk

 

Smoking during middle age more than doubles the odds for developing Alzheimer’s, according to a new study from Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente on Monday.

The study examined the medical records of over 20,000 men and women from 1994 to 2008.  The results found that those who smoked two or more packs a day increased their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 157%, and raised their risk of developing vascular dementia (the second most comment form of dementia after Alzheimer’s) by 172%.  The findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

“Sadly, we can now add Alzheimer’s to the already extensive list of tobacco’s harmful effects,” said Niki Kostrova, Oneida County Tobacco Control Coordinator.  “This study further demonstrates how important it is to prevent young people from smoking and help current smokers quit.  The state must continue to fund these programs to decrease tobacco’s deadly burden on Wisconsin.”

79 people die from smoking annually in Oneida County, according to the 2010 Burden of Tobacco in Wisconsin report.  Smoking is the also the number one cause of preventable disease and costs the state $4.5 billion in health care costs and lost productivity.

Smokers who want to quit should talk to their doctor or call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW.