PlayPassive smoking linked to dementia
Published: Friday, 13 February 2009, 12:55PM
Passive smoking has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.
Researchers found that second-hand smoke can cause damage to the way the brain works, making the onset of dementia more likely.
People exposed to high levels of other people's smoke are 44 per cent more likely to suffer cognitive impairment - affecting things like memory and ability to perform calculations.
It has already been established that smoking can increase a smoker's risk of dementia but this is the first study looking at the effect of smoking on other people.
Experts led by Dr David Llewellyn from the University of Cambridge analysed data for more than 4,800 non-smoking adults in England aged 50 and over.
He said: "We have conducted the first study to examine the association between second-hand smoke exposure and cognitive impairment in elderly non-smokers."
He continued: "Our results suggest that inhaling other people's smoke may damage the brain, impair cognitive functions such as memory, and make dementia more likely.
"Given that passive smoking is also linked to other serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke, smokers should avoid lighting up near non-smokers."
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