GIVE up smoking and you could dramatically decrease your risk of developing dementia.

That’s the message from an internationally renowned dementia expert to Welsh smokers today, World Alzheimer’s Day.

Bob Woods, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology of Older People at Bangor University, has joined forces with Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales, to warn smokers of the links between smoking and an increased risk of being diagnosed with conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Approximately 45,000 people in Wales have dementia and by 2021, across Wales that number is projected to increase by 31 per cent and by as much as 44 per cent in some rural areas. Professor Woods, said: “Smoking is reported across numerous studies as increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

In the UK, it is thought that 10 per cent of cases of Alzheimer’s Disease may be attributable to smoking – that’s around 8,000 per annum. The probable mechanism is that smoking increases the risk of heart disease and blood supply problems. Other risk factors for these vascular problems also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease – diabetes, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity and physical inactivity. These risk factors also increase the risk of developing the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, known as vascular dementia.”

He went on to say, however, that by giving up smoking the likelihood of ex-smokers developing dementia decreases, explaining: “Studies suggest that the risk for ex-smokers is reduced, and may even be no different from that of non-smokers.”

Professor Woods who was Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales, until his retirement last year, said he would urge smokers to break the habit: “At present there are no cures for dementia, and many of us will have seen loved ones developing the condition and experienced its impact on family and friends as well as on the person with the condition. We can all increase our brain health by our lifestyle choices and reducing the risk of dementia is an additional good reason for breaking the habit.”

According to a 2014 report on tobacco use and dementia published by the World Health Organisation, an estimated 14 per cent of Alzheimer’s Disease cases worldwide are attributable to smoking and second-hand smoke also increases the risk of developing dementia. The report states that supporting tobacco users to quit should be a top priority for the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia.

Earlier this year the Welsh Government launched its Dementia Action Plan for Wales 2018-2022 and pledged to invest an additional £10 million a year from 2018/19 to transform dementia care in Wales. The plan includes working on dementia risk reduction by encouraging people to make changes to their lifestyle by following six steps – including stopping smoking.

Suzanne Cass is Chief Executive Officer of ASH Wales. She said: “There is strong evidence that smoking increases your risk of developing dementia. However, the positive message for smokers is that if they give up, that risk decreases.

“It’s never too late to stop smoking and repair some of the damage you’ve done. We know it’s not easy, but there is plenty of support out there. You don’t need to do this alone and the benefits of a tobacco free life are enormous – not least a decreased risk of developing dementia, a debilitating condition for which there is no cure.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s Country Director for Wales, Sue Phelps, joined the call for smokers to give up cigarettes, adding that it’s never too late to adopt a healthier lifestyle:

“Alzheimer’s Society encourages stopping smoking, as this is thought to reduce the risk of developing dementia back down to the level of non-smokers. It is never too late to adopt healthier lifestyle choices and by avoiding second-hand smoke, people are also likely to help reduce their risk of developing the condition.”

“Two of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular dementia, are linked to problems with the vascular system. It is known that smoking increases the risk of vascular problems, which may lead to strokes or smaller bleeds in the brain, which are both risk factors for dementia.”

She was joined by Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, who added: “Smoking is an established risk factor for all types of dementia; it damages the body’s blood supply, increasing the chance of strokes or smaller brain bleeds, which are themselves risk factors for vascular dementia.

“The toxic chemicals in cigarettes can increase oxidative stress and inflammation, which have both been linked to development of Alzheimer's Disease. Smoking also increases the chance of developing other health conditions like type 2 diabetes, which in turn elevate the likelihood of dementia.”

If you are a smoker and would like to quit, ASH Wales offers great tips on how to get started. Visit the ASH Wales website www.ash.wales to get friendly advice from other quitters as well as daily tips and motivation. Help Me Quit is run by NHS Wales and will help you to find the stop smoking service that best suits you. Contact them on 0800 085 2219 or visit www.helpmequit.wales.