You probably know nixing cigarettes is good for your body. But it’s also good for your brain.
Did you know that besides causing cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases, smoking can also harm your cognition? That includes the brain’s ability to learn new things and remember old ones. Plus, smoking can have a negative effect on brain-related functions such as hearing and seeing.
Here’s the good news: Experts say quitting smoking might help cut your risk factors for brain-related issues. “The act of quitting may slow the progression of cognitive decline that could happen with continued smoking,” says Jeffrey Wing, Ph.D. He is an assistant professor of epidemiology at The Ohio State University College of Public Health.
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Dr. Wing and others conducted a study on the link between smoking and cognitive decline, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. He notes that the association between smoking and brain function was most significant in people in the 45- to 59-year-old age group.
But even if you’re older, quitting smoking can have a positive impact.
So, just how does stopping smoking positively impact your brain? And what can you do to quit, once and for all? Find out below.
5 reasons quitting smoking can help your brain health
When you light up a cigarette, the smoke you’re inhaling into your lungs contains chemicals that can damage your brain cells and their supporting structures, as well as lower oxygen levels in the blood, all of which are bad for your brain.
But the opposite is true too. When you quit smoking, it may:
- Decrease your risk of cognitive decline. In that same Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease study, the percentage of former smokers who’d quit more than 10 years ago who reported cognitive issues was 12%, compared with 17% of current smokers who reported cognitive issues. (The researchers also found that among those people who never smoked, 8.7% experienced those issues.)Smoking is also linked to other serious health problems that are risk factors for cognitive decline, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, so quitting might help cut that risk too.
- Decrease your risk of developing brain disease. Anyone, including older adults, can potentially cut their risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia by quitting smoking. On the other side of the coin, smoking is associated with a 70% higher risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. That risk increases the longer and more frequently people smoke during their lifetimes. Smokers also tend to develop Alzheimer’s at a younger age than nonsmokers do.
- Decrease your risk of vascular disease. Vascular disease relates to any abnormality of your blood vessels. Smoking can damage blood vessels, which can cause heart issues and stroke, so quitting smoking can limit that damage. And that can help prevent vascular dementia, a form of dementia caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.
- Stop the speed-up of brain volume reduction. Studies show that smoking is associated with a decrease in brain volume. Although quitting smoking is unlikely to restore the brain to its original volume, it may prevent further smoking-related loss.
- Enhance key senses. Smoking can cause trouble for your senses, including taste and smell. Quitting will not only make food taste better but also improve your sense of smell, according to the American Lung Association. It may also reduce hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as eye issues that limit vision (such as cataracts and macular degeneration), over time.
Your brain health matters!
BrainHQ rewires the brain so you can think faster, focus better, and remember more. And that helps people feel happier, healthier, and more in control. Sign up today!
Thinking about quitting? Here’s how to get started
There will be a challenge ahead if you decide to quit. And even before starting out, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can advise you about the best strategies and discuss the types of medications that can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Another important avenue: seeking outside support. (Leaning on your friends isn’t just good for quitting cigarettes, it’s also good for your brain.) There are many free services that can help:
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to connect with your state’s stop-smoking quit-line, which can provide advice about local programs, individual counseling, and free medications.
- Freedom From Smoking, sponsored by the American Lung Association, is an effective program for quitting, offering personalized quit plans, strategies, in-person support groups, and live chat support.
- The National Cancer Institute has a text messaging program that provides 24/7 support, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a phone app that helps you quit with tips, inspiration, and challenges.
Additional sources:
Smoking and cognitive issues: IOS Press
Smoking’s effects on the brain: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Environmental Research and Public Health and Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science
Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Vascular dementia: Mayo Clinic
Eye health: JAMA Ophthalmology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hearing loss: American Journal of Medicine
Quitting smoking helps restore senses: American Lung Association
