Work

Changes in Smoking Status in Depressed Patients and the Risk of Dementia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Smoking is a known risk factor for dementia, but the effects of changes in smoking behavior after a depression diagnosis remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide cohort study of 1,290,530 individuals newly diagnosed with depression in South Korea between 2009 and 2012. Participants were categorized by smoking status before and after diagnosis. Incident dementia, including Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD), was tracked through 2018. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox models. RESULTS: Continued smoking showed the highest dementia risk (HR 1.338 for all-cause; 1.323 for AD; and 1.524 for VD). Quitting reduced risk but remained higher than in persistent non-smokers. Middle age was a key risk period for AD. For VD, men had consistently higher risk, while women had increased risk only in the cessation group. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in smoking behavior after depression diagnosis influence dementia risk, underscoring the need for cessation strategies.

Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001849

Authors: Yoo Jin Jang, Hyewon Kim, Jin-Hyung Jung, Kyungdo Han, Hong Jin Jeon

Institutions: Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Soongsil University

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University