Reduce smoking

Abstain from tobacco in any form. Speak to a professional regarding smoking cessation.

If you smoke, you may experience faster cognitive decline than nonsmokers.

This is even more serious for men, according to a 2012 study that examined the cognitive data of more than 7,000 men and women over a 12-year period. The researchers found that middle-aged male smokers experienced more rapid cognitive decline than nonsmokers or female smokers.

A 2015 research review looked at 37 studies comparing smokers and nonsmokers and found that smokers were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia. The review also found that quitting smoking decreases the risk of dementia to that of a nonsmoker.

Researchers found that smoking negatively affected the structural integrity of subcortical brain regions. They also found that smokers, compared to nonsmokers, had greater amounts of age-related brain volume loss in several areas of the brain.