GUMC Update : Shields Comments on Second-Hand Smoke and Dementia Study to NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

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Shields Comments on Second-Hand Smoke and Dementia Study to NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

March 18, 2009

Dr. Peter Shields, deputy director of the Lombardi Cancer Center, commented on a study done by Dr. Iain Lang of the University of Cambridge. Researchers at the University analyzed data from 5000 non-smoking adults aged 50 years and over. Results showed that non-smokers were 44% more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment affecting memory and simple calculations.

According to Dr. Lang, years of second-hand smoke exposure may be the culprit. Dr. Shields commented that the toxins from second-hand smoke are more dangerous than the ones inhaled.

“Second hand smoke comes from the smoke on the burning end and has higher levels of toxins and includes a lot of carcinogens,” said Shields. “And over long-term what happens is other toxins really affect the brain—they cause brain atrophy, blood flow problems to the brain and mini strokes.”

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