The detrimental effects of smoking increase with age, yet the likelihood of quitting decreases. Elderly smokers benefit significantly from smoking cessation but may adopt a "damage is done" attitude about quitting. Although elderly smokers may not fully recover from the cumulative damage caused by a lifetime of smoking, they can increase lifespan and improve quality of life by quitting.
Cognitive Function
A study involving 9,209 people over the age of 65 published in the American Academy of Neurology's scientific journal concluded that elderly individuals who smoked experienced more rapid decline in cognitive function than their nonsmoking peers. Former smokers experienced more rapid decline in cognitive function than those who never smoked, but less than those who smoked during the duration of the study.
Secondhand Smoke and Dementia
Secondhand smoke also poses a risk to the cognitive function of elderly individuals. According to a study presented at an American Academy of Neurology conference, elderly people exposed for 30 or more years to secondhand smoke were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who had not experienced a lifetime of secondhand smoke exposure.
Lung Function
That smoking contributes to lung disease is common knowledge. The longer someone smokes and the more he smokes, the greater the damage. An individual may never fully recover from such conditions as chronic bronchitis, emphysema or lung cancer, even after quitting. Someone who quits will recover a significant amount of lung function, though. A study published in "The Journal of the American Medical Association" drew the promising conclusion that those who quit smoking after the age of 60 have better pulmonary function than elderly individuals who continue to smoke.
Bone Density
Bone density naturally declines with age, leading to the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Smoking inhibits the body's production of bone and so further contributes to the decline in bone density. A study investigating the risk of bone loss in elderly individuals, published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology," found that cigarette smoking contributes substantially to significantly higher rates of bone loss.
Wound Healing
Smoking interferes with circulation. Wounds require blood flow in order to heal. The blood carries nutrients to the wound site to promote healing. As circulation decreases, so does wound recovery. This can have particularly devastating effects on elderly individuals, who are more likely develop stomach ulcers, bone fractures, arthritis, diabetes-related wounds, tooth decay and other conditions that require healing. The body's inability to heal itself extends surgery recovery time, making smoking a significant risk factor in surgery-related complications for elderly smokers.
References
- American Academy of Neurology: Smoking Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Decline in the Elderly
- American Academy of Neurology: Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk of Dementia
- The Journal of the American Medical Association: Smoking and Lung Function in Elderly Men and Women
- American Journal of Epidemiology: Risk Factors for Increased Bone Loss in an Elderly Population
- The Center for Social Gerontology: Tobacco-Related Health Problems and Older Persons
