Cigarette smoking may facilitate the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

​This study assessed whether cigarette smoking can increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers compared smoking habits with the rate of occurrence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a study population comprising of 6,870 men and women aged 55 years and above and with no history of dementia.

Researchers discovered that cigarette smoking doubled the risk of having dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The results of this study demonstrate that smoking may be a contributing factor to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.