Smoking menthol cigarettes could help REDUCE symptoms of Alzheimer’s, study finds

Inhaling menthol may help prevent Alzheimer’s symptoms in some patients, a study suggests.

Spanish researchers found that the substance in cigarettes, candy and other mint-flavored products reduced the levels of proteins that caused Alzheimer’s-related brain swelling in mice.

It’s a rare study that finds a potential benefit in smoking. Doctors would probably eat mints or sniff other menthol-flavored products instead.

Smoking has long been shown to increase the risks of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

It does this by increasing the risk of vascular problems, including strokes and brain hemorrhages, which are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the toxins in cigarette smoke and cells can inflame and cause stress.

The study, which was conducted on mice and published in the journal Frontiers in immunologyfound that smelling the substance repeatedly, even briefly, can prevent cognitive decline, a side effect of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The aroma lowered levels of interleukin-1 beta, a protein that affects the body’s inflammatory response.

“This study is an important step towards understanding the link between the immune system, central nervous system and smell, as the results suggest that smells and immune modulators may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease” , wrote study author Dr. Noelia Casares said in a press release.

Menthol is a naturally occurring chemical in peppermint and other mint plants.

In addition to cigarettes, it is also used as a flavoring agent in foods, liqueurs, cosmetics and perfumes.

It was added to tobacco in the 1920s and 1930s to reduce the sharpness of cigarette smoke and nicotine irritation, according to the American Lung Association. It also gives them a minty flavor.

However, smoking has long been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

a Lancet Committee 2017 on dementiafor example, smoking ranked third among nine modifiable risk factors for dementia.

In addition, the World Health Organisation estimates that 14 percent of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide can possibly be attributed to smoking.

A 2015 analysis of 37 different studies in the journal PLOS ONE found that current smokers are 40 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

In the new study, researchers examined the effects of menthol on male and female mice for six months.

They found that the aroma reduced levels of the protein interleukin-1-beta.

This led to less inflammation in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers then ran memory tests on the mice and found that their cognitive skills had improved.

The risks go beyond cognitive decline. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking, and that for every person who dies from smoking, at least 30 people have a serious related disease.

Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke by two to four times. The chance of developing lung cancer is almost 25 times greater.

This new study comes a year after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it measures to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes in the USas well as flavored cigars.

The agency noted that the measure would save the lives of 92,000 to 238,000 African Americans, who were more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes. About 80 percent of black smokers opt for menthol.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of diseases that mark progressive and permanent cognitive decline.

It hinders functions such as thinking, remembering and reasoning. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases Alzheimer’s Association estimates.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and by 2050 that number is expected to increase more than double.

However, there are better established ways to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias without inhaling menthol.

a 2022 study published in Neurology found that regular exercise and exercise, household chores, and visits to family and friends led to a lower risk of several types of dementia.

In 2015, a study published in the Lancet found that a healthy diet, exercise, mental stimulation and monitoring of cardiovascular health worked together to reduce the risk of dementia.

Even if you already smoke, quitting can still have benefits.

A 2019 study of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that smokers’ increased risk of dementia decreased over time when they quit.

Finally, after nine years, the risk was no greater than that of non-smokers.