The annual awareness day encourages smokers to make a quit attempt and this year’s theme is 'stopping smoking protects your brain health'.
According to Alzheimer's Research UK, dementia is the most feared health condition for people over the age of 55 – more than any other life-threatening disease including cancer and diabetes.
Yet YouGov data commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed 18% of people who smoke know that smoking increases the risk of dementia, compared to 80% who know that smoking causes lung diseases or cancers.
Smoking raises the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain. Studies also suggest that quitting smoking reduces this risk substantially, and smoking has been identified as one of twelve risk factors that if eliminated entirely, could collectively prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.
However, data from Alzheimer's Research UK show only a third of UK adults know there are things they can do to help reduce their risk of dementia, and stopping smoking is one of them.
Councillor Roy Webb, cabinet member for Adults, Health and Housing said:
As an ex-smoker myself, I know how difficult it can be to stop but quitting is something I would encourage all smokers to pursue. The long-term effects of smoking can be extremely damaging to both your physical health and mental health.
No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity to not only to take the first steps to quitting smoking but also is the perfect opportunity to highlight all of the effects of smoking such as dementia.
Smokers are three times more likely to quit successfully with the right support so I’d urge Derby residents to get free support and treatments from the Council’s healthy lifestyle service, Livewell."
Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, a neuroscientist and dementia prevention expert based at Imperial College London, said:
If you smoke, quitting is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect both your heart and your brain. It really can be life-changing.
Many people know that smoking affects the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of conditions like high blood pressure and stroke. But fewer realise that these conditions, in turn, increase the risk of dementia, or that the chemicals in cigarette smoke can speed up the natural ageing of the brain.
It’s fantastic that brain health is the theme of No Smoking Day 2023. Initiatives like this are so important in raising awareness of the steps we can take to help keep the brain healthy.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, who is helping to co-ordinate this year’s No Smoking Day, said:
Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to improve your health. It has been shown to reduce the risk of developing dementia, heart disease, cancer and stroke. You experience health benefits within weeks of stopping, breathing easier and feeling fitter.
No Smoking Day is the perfect time to quit smoking when thousands of other people are stopping too. There are many ways to stop from nicotine replacement therapy to vaping and free local support to stop smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to succeed in quitting with help from a trained professional than with willpower alone.”
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
Just a third of people realise that we can take steps to help reduce our risk of developing dementia in later life. This has to change, which is why improving people’s understanding of the things that they can do to shape their brain health is a real priority for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
We’re delighted to be working alongside ASH to shine a light on the link between smoking and brain health. We hope the positive message that quitting smoking at any point can help reduce your dementia risk gives people who smoke fresh motivation to quit this No Smoking Day.”
You can visit the NHS quit smoking website to find out where you can get free access to the latest quitting aids, apps, information, one-to-one advice, and local support.
Derby residents can also find support through Livewell. Livewell offer free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray) for 10 weeks, stop smoking drop-in clinics, personalized support, and much more to help your journey to quitting smoking. Register and book a phone appointment to get started on the Livewell website.