It’s no secret that tobacco smoking is an unhealthy habit. Not only does smoking harm your lungs, it also has dangerous side effects on the heart and brain. Older adults who smoke are 30 percent more likely to develop dementia and 40 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But is it the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products that harms the brain? Or are the other toxic chemicals the contain the real problem?

You may be surprised to learn that some studies suggest nicotine could lower the risk of dementia. Scientists have even explored the idea of developing drugs containing nicotine or similar substances to help treat brain conditions. However, smoking is never recommended as a way to improve health, including preventing or treating Alzheimer’s. Keep reading to learn why.

Effects of Nicotine on the Brain

Nicotine is a compound found naturally in the tobacco plant. It has several brain-boosting effects, which is one of the main reasons it’s so addictive. Studies show that nicotine improves cognition and memory, even in healthy people who haven’t slept well. There’s also some early evidence that nicotine might help slow down cognitive decline and memory loss in people with mild cognitive problems that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. It may even improve cognitive performance in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and thyroid disease.

Smoking and Alzheimer’s Disease

Even though nicotine might have some benefits for cognitive function, tobacco use is linked to a higher risk of dementia. Cigarette smoke has various toxins that increase inflammation and cause oxidative stress, which leads to cell and tissue damage. Smoking also damages the vascular system (blood vessels), which includes blood vessels in the heart and the brain. For every 20 cigarettes a person smokes per day, their risk of dementia goes up by 34 percent. Even exposure to second-hand smoke can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Smoking kills brain cells and starves them of essential nutrients and oxygen. It also hardens the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow throughout the body. People who smoke also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes, which can lead to lasting brain damage.

Cannabis contains different chemicals than tobacco. If you’re worried about how smoking marijuana affects people with Alzheimer’s, you can read more about it in this article.

How To Quit Smoking

Cutting back on cigarette smoking is a good start to improving your health. However, quitting completely is the best option. By quitting smoking, you could lower your risk of dementia to the same level as people who do not smoke. You’ll also lower your chances of getting cancer, heart disease, and other smoking-related health problems.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) helps you gradually reduce your physical dependence on nicotine. NRT makes it easier to quit smoking by lessening cravings. These products come in the form of hard candies (lozenges), gum, nasal spray, inhaler, and skin patches. You can buy them over the counter.

There are also two approved prescription medications for quitting smoking: bupropion and varenicline. These pills help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms in the brain. Quit-smoking products and medications help break smoking habits and support lasting changes.

The process of buying cigarettes at the store, holding a cigarette between your fingers, lighting it up, and stepping outside for a smoke break can become routine. Because of this, many people find it hard to break the habit. Quitting smoking is tough and often requires more than one try. Many people find it helpful to get support from a smoking cessation counselor or a support group. You can ask your health care provider for a referral or find one for free online.

Trying To Help Your Loved One

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, you know it’s important to pick your battles. It’s not always easy or possible to get them to change their habits, even if it’s for their own good. While smoking can contribute to Alzheimer’s and other health problems, it’s not the only potential cause. Many factors can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

One myALZteam member shared, “My mother smoked for years. It was a real worry, as she lived alone. One day, she just stopped. When she was admitted to the nursing home, she used to comment about the women smoking outside. I said, ‘You used to do that.’ She said, ‘No, I didn’t.’”

Smoking is considered a “modifiable risk factor,” which means it’s something that people can change. Other risk factors, like genetics, are not in our control.

Some myALZteam members have mentioned that their loved ones with dementia want to smoke or have started smoking again despite having quit years before. “I’m worried that my husband has started smoking again,” shared one member. “He’s had three serious health issues besides dementia, and smoking could make them become severe again. I’m not sure what to do.”

Another member said, “My husband is at stage five or six of Alzheimer’s, but when he was in the earlier stages, he often said he would love to have a cigarette. He quit smoking about 30 years ago, so I don’t know why, all of a sudden, he had the urge to smoke again. He’s way past the ability to go and buy them now.”

Talking to your loved one’s health care provider can help you decide whether it should be a priority to help them quit smoking, and if so, to find ways to make it easier. You may find that your concerns aren’t unusual, and that other people who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s face similar challenges.

Talk With Others Who Understand

Join myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family members. On myALZteam, more than 86,000 people come together to ask questions, give advice, and share stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s disease.

Have you or a loved one successfully quit smoking with nicotine patches or other products? How have tobacco products affected your family’s health and well-being? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.