Passive smoking linked to dementia

Passive smoking appears to significantly raise a person's risk of dementia and other forms of cognitive problems. Research has linked passive smoking to a range of conditions including lung cancer and heart disease. Previous studies have also identified that smoking increases the chances of dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment but it was not as clear whether the same held true for second-hand smoke.To examine the association between exposure to second-hand smoke and cognitive impairment, researchers from Britain followed 4809 non-smoking adults aged 50 years or more. The researchers examined saliva samples of the participants and tested the saliva for cotinine, a product of nicotine found in saliva for about 25 hours after exposure to second-hand smoke, to measure of exposure to cigarettes. It was found that those who were exposed to second hand smoke had 44 percent increased risk of developing dementia and other cognitive impairments. The results suggest that inhaling other people's smoke may damage the brain, impair cognitive functions such as memory, and make dementia more likely. The findings could be attributed to the fact that exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, conditions that increase the risks of dementia and other cognitive problems.