To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Smoking Doubles Risk Of Dementia And Alzheimer's Disease URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/8761E.htm Doctor's Guide June 19, 1998
LONDON, ENGLAND -- June 19, 1998 -- Cigarette smokers are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than are non-smokers, according to a large study in this week's issue of The Lancet. Smokers are also more likely to develop vascular dementia-another common form of dementia caused by vascular disease and strokes. Dr. A. Ott and colleagues from The Netherlands followed up 6,870 men and women, aged 55 years and older, living in a Rotterdam suburb. At the start of the study, none of the men or women had dementia. They were asked about their smoking habits and classified as never smokers, former smokers, or current smokers. They were then followed up for an average of two years. Any participants who developed signs of possible dementia during the study underwent neuropsychological assessment and, if possible, a brain scan to find out if they had Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. In the study 146 individuals developed dementia during the study, of whom 105 were diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease. Current smokers were more than twice as likely to develop dementia of any kind and Alzheimer's disease compared with never smokers. Smokers also tended to develop dementia at a younger age. However, Dr. Ott and colleagues found that smokers who carry the gene for a protein that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease -- APOE epsilon 4 -- are no more likely to develop the disease than are non-smokers. But those who do not carry the gene are more than four times more likely to develop the disease. Why APOE epsilon 4 might protect smokers is not clear. One explanation, say the researchers, might be that smoking alters brain chemistry in a way that counters some effects of Alzheimer's disease. Another is that smokers with APOE epsilon 4 might die young and do not live long enough to develop the disease. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.