Published at 02 September, 2025 08:56.
World Alzheimer's Month takes place every September to raise awareness and help support people who have been affected by the disease. World Alzheimer's Day is on 21 September.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in the UK. Dementia is the name for several symptoms associated with a decline of brain functions. It can affect memory, cognitive skills, ability to do daily tasks and to take care of every day personal needs. It can also lead to a worsening of mood, depression and hallucinating or delusional thoughts. The ability to retain independence is reduced as decision making abilities are affected
Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. It's estimated to affect around 180,000 people in the UK. Smoking can increase your risk of developing dementia as it increases the risk of vascular problems with the heart and our blood vessels. The cells in our bodies are exposed to toxins when we smoke and this causes inflammation which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Smoking causes your arteries to become narrower, which can raise your blood pressure. It also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as several types of cancer and stroke.
By stopping smoking, you may be able to reduce your chances of developing vascular dementia. Making other healthy lifestyle choices such as cutting out or cutting down on alcohol use, losing weight if you need to and taking regular exercise if you are able can also help. Always consult a medical professional such as your GP if you are starting a new exercise regime. There are other factors which may affect your risk such as age, family history and some genetic conditions and ethnicity. Treatments may slow down the progression of vascular dementia, however there is no cure
Second hand smoke can also be a risk factor for developing cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia and research has shown that the more exposure to second hand smoke, the greater the risk of developing these diseases due to the toxins in cigarette smoke. Protect yourself and your family by stopping smoking and help reduce yours and your loved one’s risk NHS Stop Smoking Service - Yorkshire Smokefree
Find out more at World Alzheimer's Month | Alzheimer's Society
Carrie at Yorkshire Smoke Free, remembering Winnie as I write this, a lady with dementia who I sadly miss. ...Let's raise awareness and understanding ... it will help a lot. Memory loss amongst other symptoms. Forget-me-not.
