This One Lifestyle Change Could Lower Dementia Risk by 16%

Dementia risk is shaped by many factors, including age, genetics, heart health, education, sleep, activity, and social connection. But new research has focused on one change that may make a measurable difference over time: quitting smoking.

The study, reported by ScienceAlert, followed more than 32,000 adults over 25 years and found that people who quit smoking during the study period had a 16% lower risk of dementia compared with current smokers. The finding does not mean quitting is a guaranteed shield against dementia, but it adds to growing evidence that what harms the lungs and blood vessels can also affect the brain.