Middle-aged smokers at higher risk of dementia

The Guardian (4 August 2009) -- Middle-aged people who smoke, are diabetic or have high blood pressure are far more likely to suffer from dementia, research reveals today.

Smokers aged between 46 and 70 have a 70% higher risk of developing chronic memory loss, according to a study reported in Britain's Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The chance of people with diabetes getting dementia is more than doubled because of their condition, while in those with raised blood pressure it is increased by 60% compared with people without that problem.

A separate study today shows that people may be able to ward off the onset of dementia by stimulating their brain regularly through everyday activities such as reading, writing and playing card games. That research, in the American journal Neurology, offers further evidence that mental exercise can help delay cognitive impairment.

Denis Campbell, health correspondent

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