Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

The issue of dementia (often called "Alzheimer's Disease") is a concern to many. Some care for health reasons, others due to concern about so-called "driver dementia."

         This site assists on dementia / Alzheimer's Disease prevention by providing educational information based on medical journals citing the role of tobacco and cigarettes in the Alzheimer's disease process (the cigarettes-Alzheimer's link).

"Smoking raises your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease by 50 percent," says "Smoking Ups Dementia Risk, Dutch Researchers Say" (5 September 2007), citing C. Reitz, T. den Heijer, C. van Duijn, A. Hofman, and M. M. B. Breteler, "Relation between smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease," Neurology, Vol. 69 (Issue # 10), pp 998-1005 (4 September 2007).

Dr. Monique Breteler, of Erasmus Medical Center, in "Smokers more likely to develop dementia" (Science News, 4 September 2007, says, "people who smoke are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or dementia than non-smokers or those who smoked in the past." "Smoking increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease, which is also tied to dementia." And reference "oxidative stress, which can damage cells in the blood vessels and lead to hardening of the arteries. Smokers experience greater oxidative stress than non-smokers, and increased oxidative stress is also seen in Alzheimer's disease."

This is ancient data, long known: Tobacco "endangereth the child to become brain damaged or of imperfect memory."—Sir Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: A Natural History, in Ten Centuries (London: Wm. Lee, 1626). Bacon (1561-1626) was an English writer and leader under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. This type data was already then known in medicine.

"It is deplorable to see how many a man who has fallen a victim to this frivolous habit will smoke away his brain, his memory, his wits [until he] can no longer control his natural instincts and faculties," said Joahnn Lassenius, Adeligen Tischreden (Nuremberg, 1661). Lassenius also observed that people "do chew and tipple their tobacco, that a man will even drink [narcotize] himself silly, since it [tobacco] dries up all the moisture of the brain which cannot live without it. Many a one becomes so used to the stuff that he cannot be parted from it neither day nor night." [Lassenius was cited by Count Egon Corti, A History of Smoking (New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co, 1932), p 117.]

Tobacco-induced memory loss was observed again in the 1790's. See references to some tobacco-memory-impairment cases, by Dr. Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (Philadelphia: T & W Bradford, 1798), p 265, including Benjamin Franklin's observation in the 1770's.

Medical concern about tobacco effects on the brain dates back to at least 1603 (Oxford University forum on the subject).

Tobacco-caused damage endangers memory in all ages, the youth through the elderly: "elderly smokers have increased risks of dementia and cognitive decline," say Kaarin J. Anstey, Chwee von Sanden, Agus Salim and Richard O'Kearney, "Smoking as a Risk Factor for Dementia and Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies, 166 American Journal of Epidemiology (#4) 367-378 (14 June 2007).

Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals in quantities far above safe limits, which in turn cause abulia, an underlying factor in Alzheimer's disease. This adverse double action makes cigarettes a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease.

          The role of cigarettes in Alzheimer's disease has been described by A. Ott, et al., "Smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a population-based cohort study: the Rotterdam Study," 351 The Lancet (#9119) 1840-1843 (20 June 1998).

This article may be available at your local public library and is at http://www.thelancet.com (though to view it, you must become a member (not subscriber) of the Lancet's site, then click on "search", then choose volume 351, page 1840.

The article provides an additional large bibliography of material. The key finding is
"Compared with never smokers, smokers had an increased risk of dementia   . . . and Alzheimer's disease. Smoking was a strong risk factor in [certain smokers]." Their "interpretation" is that "Smoking was associated with a doubling of the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease."

The authors state that
"Smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and increases the risk of vascular dementia. . . . Vascular involvement is probably more important than previously thought in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease."

Remember, that is one study. Multiple other studies have shown more facts. For example, cigarettes' toxic chemicals impair the immune system. Worse, tobacco smoke's massive quantities of toxic chemicals cause
"mutations of cellular genetic structures, deviation of cellular characteristics from their optimal normal state [leading to] a body-wide spectrum of disease,"—R. T. Ravenholt, M.D., M.P.H., writing in 307 New England Journal of Med (5) 312 (29 July 1982).

Underlying the adverse impact of cigarettes' toxic chemicals on the body, particularly the brain, is the fact that cigarettes contain well-established deleterious ingredients. This fact is so well-established in medicine that an appellate court took judicial notice of the fact, in the case of Banzhaf v F.C.C., 132 US App DC 14, 29; 405 F2d 1082, 1097 (1968) cert den 396 US 842 (1969).

For details, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Reducing the Health Consequences of Smoking: 25 Years of Progress: a Report of the Surgeon General, Publication CDC 89-8411, Table 7, pp 86-87 (1989), lists examples of deleterious ingredients including but not limited to:

acetaldehyde (1.4+ mg)arsenic (500+ ng)benzo(a)pyrene (.1+ ng)
cadmium (1,300+ ng)crotonaldehyde (.2+ µg)chromium (1,000+ ng)
ethylcarbamate 310+ ng)formaldehyde (1.6+ g)hydrazine (14+ ng)
lead (8+ µg)nickel (2,000+ ng)radioactive polonium (.2+ Pci).

Actually, judicial notice of cigarettes' deleteriousness was taken as long ago as pursuant to an 1897 Tennessee law, in Austin v State, 101 Tenn 563; 566-7; 48 SW 305, 306; 70 Am St Rep 703 (1898) affirmed 179 US 343 (1900). Michigan soon thereafter passed a law banning unsafe cigarettes, law number MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216. Over a period of a century, many cases have cited cigarette hazards.

See also Prof. Alewijn Ott, K. Andersen, M. E. Dewey, L. Letenneur, C. Brayne, J. R.M. Copeland, J.-F. Dartigues, P. Kragh–Sorensen, A. Lobo, J. M. Martinez–Lage, T. Stijnen, A. Hofman, and L. J. Launer, "Effect of smoking on global cognitive function in nondemented elderly," 62 Neurology (#6) 920-924 (23 March 2004), reported as "Smokers suffer faster mental decline" (22 March 2004) (smokers have "a markedly faster mental decline" and "lose their mental faculties up to five times faster than non-smokers" "including the onset of atherosclerosis and hypertension caused by tobacco use" and thus "increased the risk of stroke and 'silent' brain infarctions").

Smokers' symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease are not new. Cigarettes' adverse brain effects have long been known objectively. For example, Meta Lander, The Tobacco Problem, 6th ed. (Boston: Lee and Shepard Pub, 1882), pp 141-161, published an overview of smoking's adverse effects including on the brain.

The bottom line is, in the words of Dr. L. E. Keeley, Keeley Institute, Dwight, Illinois: "Tobacco . . . lays the foundation of nearly every nervous [mental] disorder now common to the people of America," p 150. Lander at p 161 quotes one analyst saying that "the worst of [tobacco's effects] is the destruction of the reasoning power in man." P 164 cites smoker death "due to congestion of the brain from cigarette poisoning."

"It impairs the functions of the brain, clouds the understanding, and enfeebles the memory," quoting Dr. Stephenson, p 144. "The collossal increase of nerve and mind disease in our day is undoubtedly the result, to a great extent, of . . . tobacco," p 147, quoting Dr. Bilroth. Another analyst correlated tobacco use and insanity rates as increasing in tandem, p 149.

Lander quoted from the Phrenological Journal: "Half the old tobacco users are in a state of semi-imbecility. Their memory is leaky, moral sense blunted, general disposition impaired, and tone of both body and mind let down," p 150.

"Loss of memory takes place in an extraordinary degree in the smoker, much more so than in the drunkard."—John Lizars, M.D., The Use and Abuse of Tobacco (Edinburgh: 1859), p 34.

"Smoking tobacco weakens the nervous powers; favors a dreamy, imaginative, and imbecile state of existence; produces indolence and incapability of manly or continued exertion; and sinks its votary into a state of careless or maudlin inactivity and selfish enjoyment of his vice.

"He ultimately becomes partially, but generally paralyzed in mind and body—he is subject to tremors and numerous nervous ailments, and has recourse to stimulants for their relief. These his vices cannot abate, however indulged in, and he ultimately dies a drivelling idiot, an imbecile paralytic, or a sufferer from internal organic disease, at an age many years short of the average duration of life."—Lizars, supra, p 119.

Tobacco-induced memory loss has been reported since at least the 1790's. See references to some tobacco-memory-impairment cases, by Dr. Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (Philadelphia: T & W Bradford, 1798), p 265, including Benjamin Franklin's observation in the 1770's.

Medical concern about tobacco effects on the brain dates back to at least 1603 (Oxford University forum on the subject).

Clearly, "one of the known effects of tobacco is to cause forgetfulness, especially of higher things . . . . It is obvious that forgetfulness is a common result of smoking."—Herbert H. Tidswell, M.D., The Tobacco Habit: Its History and Pathology (London: J. & A. Churchill, 1912), p 37.

The evidence was already clear "that extensive use of tobacco goes hand in hand with relatively low scholarship."—Baumberger JP and Martin EG, "Fatigue and Efficiency of Smokers in a Strenuous Mental Occupation," 2 Journal of Industrial Hygiene (#6) 207-214 (Oct 1920). The difference is dose-response related as well, comparing light vs heavy smokers, in terms of "a lessened ability to sustain output to the end of the working day, and in a diminished power to react by increased effort to an increase in the volume of business," p 213. Heavy smokers' "production for the whole day is definitely less than that of the light smokers," p 214. With this deterioration already evident in work years, Alzheimer's is in essence a continuation of the mental disintegration already evident earlier in life.

"There is many a man who once had a noble mind, who, by the use of the quid, or pipe, is now little better than an idiot or fool . . . ," says Rev. George Trask, Letters on Tobacco (Fitchburg, Mass: Trask Pub, 1860), p 50.

"Avant le . . . tabac, la folie était une maladie trčs rare dans l'humanité," says Dr. Hippolyte A. Depierris, Physiologie Sociale: Le Tabac (Paris: Dentu, 1876), p 346. Before tobacco, brain deterioration was a rare malady among humans.

The ultrahazardous   ingredients in TTS are so dangerous, they can even cause dementia in nonsmokers. See the article, "Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk Of Dementia," ScienceDaily (2 May 2007).

Due to cigarettes' deleterious ingredients, cigarettes emit deleterious emissions. Due to cigarettes' deleterious nature and ingredients, they, when lit, emit deleterious emissions, whcih smokers inhale. Those toxic chemicals then, unfortunately, are transported by the blood to the brain.

The Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW), Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, PHS Pub 1103, Table 4, p 60 (1964), lists examples of deleterious emissions (contrasted to the chemicals' "speed limits" (official term, "Threshold Limit Values," "TLV's") set by the safety rule 29 CFR § 1910.1000) including but not limited to:

Cigarette ChemicalEmission Quantity
29 CFR § 1910.1000 Bans
Average Quantities Above
acetaldehyde 3,200 ppm 200.0 ppm
acrolein 150 ppm 0.5 ppm
ammonia 300 ppm 150.0 ppm
carbon monoxide 42,000 ppm 100.0 ppm
formaldehyde 30 ppm 5.0 ppm
hydrogen cyanide 1,600 ppm 10.0 ppm
hydrogen sulfide 40 ppm 20.0 ppm
methyl chloride 1,200 ppm 100.0 ppm
nitrogen dioxide 250 ppm 5.0 ppm

         In 1909, during the administration of three-term activist Governor Fred Warner, the Michigan legislature passed a law forbidding manufacture, giveaway, and sale of deleterious and adulterated cigarettes. (As with any other product, safe ones are allowed. The idea of the safe cigarettes law is to halt the fact that smokers are discriminated against by being the only people regularly sold a known deleterious ingredient. Other deleterious products are taken off the market as soon as deleteriousness is known. Smokers are thus the only group denied the benefit of standard product protection law.) The safe cigarettes law, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, bans

"any person within the state" from action that "manufactures, sells or gives to anyone, any cigarette containing any ingredient deleterious to health or foreign to tobacco . . . ."

         Of course, due to cigarettes' other adverse effects, the law has the side benefit of potentially eliminating other cigarette adverse consequences as well, effects detailed at other sections of this website. To help prevent Alzheimers' Disease, we need support from all persons, including those whose concern focuses on some other cigarette effect.

         What this site is asking is your help in (a) getting the Michigan safe cigarettes law enforced, and (b) getting all other governments to pass the same law in their areas. Please help us save lives, prevent premature deaths, by preventing unsafe cigarettes and their posing a risk factor in Alzheimers' Disease.

         To fight this problem, here are four sample letters. Sample "A" is to Governor Jennifer Granholm asking her to have the State Police enforce the law. Sample "B" is to Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm asking her to take "cease and desist" action to enforce the law. Each has the authority to help. As both the Governor and Attorney General are lawyers, the letters are written in "legalese." Sample letter "C" is to the State Police Director asking for the law to be enforced. Sample letter "D" is different, and is for you to send where the government still ignores the cigarette-Alzheimers' link. It is to be sent, for example, to the President, Congress, other Governors, and state legislators.

* * * Sample Letter A * * *

Honorable Jennifer Granholm
Governor, State of Michigan
P. O. Box 30013
Lansing MI 48909-7513                   [By Fax to (517) 335-6863]

Dear Governor Granhom:

         This is a request that, to help prevent one of the risk factors in Alzheimer's disase, you assign the Michigan State Police to enforce the safe cigarettes law, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216.

          Cigarettes are a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease. According to a recent study, A. Ott, et al., "Smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a population-based cohort study: the Rotterdam Study," The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9119. pages 1840-1843 (20 June 1998), "Smoking was associated with a doubling of the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease." "Smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and increases the risk of vascular dementia." So cigarettes are not only the general No. 1 cause of premature death, they also have a role as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease.

          The cigarette-Alzheimer's disease link occurs because of cigarettes' numerous toxic chemicals. The safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, bans unsafe cigarettes. It forbids "any person within the state" from action that "manufactures, sells or gives to anyone, any cigarette containing any ingredient deleterious to health or foreign to tobacco . . . ." Please, as an Alzheimer's disease prevention measure, assign the Michigan State Police to enforce it, and aid county sheriffs and local police departments to do likewise.

         All cigarettes are deleterious, their label admits they are, and most if not all are adulterated with additives. MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, puts personal responsibility on those with most knowledge of the contraband substance (manufacturers and sellers), not on unwary consumers, often children.

         State Police enforcement action is a normal action that they do in other state-wide law violation situations. There are precedents as well. Austin v State, 101 Tenn 563; 48 SW 305; 70 Am St Rep 703 (1898) aff'd 179 US 343 (1898); Shimp v N J Bell Tele Co, 145 N J Super 516; 368 A2d 408 (1976); Commonwealth v Hughes, 468 Pa 502; 364 A2d 306 (1976); and Smith v Western Elec Co, 643 SW2d 10, 13 (Mo App, 1982).

         As a matter of preventing Alzheimer's disease, the Michigan safe cigarettes law needs to be enforced. Please help. The law against this deleterious and adulterated product needs to be enforced. Please assign the State Police to protect abulic smokers, children, and nonsmokers, by enforcing the safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216. Please have them halt the rampant violations, and interdict deleterious and adulterated cigarettes.

Respectfully,

* * * Sample Letter B * * *

Honorable Michael Cox
Attorney General, State of Michigan
P. O. Box 30213
Lansing MI 48909

Dear Attorney General Cox:

         This is a request that, to help prevent one of the risk factors in Alzheimer's disase, you take "cease and desist" action to stop violations of the safe cigarettes law, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216.

          Cigarettes are a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease. According to a recent study, A. Ott, et al., "Smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a population-based cohort study: the Rotterdam Study," The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9119. pages 1840-1843 (20 June 1998), "Smoking was associated with a doubling of the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease." "Smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and increases the risk of vascular dementia." So cigarettes are not only the general No. 1 cause of premature death, they also have a role as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease.

          The cigarette-Alzheimer's disease link occurs because of cigarettes' numerous toxic chemicals. The safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, bans unsafe cigarettes. It forbids "any person within the state" from action that "manufactures, sells or gives to anyone, any cigarette containing any ingredient deleterious to health or foreign to tobacco . . . ." Please, as an Alzheimer's disease prevention measure, take "cease and desist" action to stop the rampant violations of the law. "Cease and desist" action is an action you take in other state-wide law violation cases. Please, as an Alzheimer's disease prevention measure, do that in this situation.

         All cigarettes are deleterious, their label admits they are, and most if not all are adulterated with additives. MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, puts personal responsibility on those with most knowledge of the contraband substance (manufacturers and sellers), not on unwary consumers, often children.

         "Cease and desist" action is a normal action that you do in other state-wide law violation situations. There are precedents, for example, Austin v State, 101 Tenn 563; 48 SW 305; 70 Am St Rep 703 (1898) aff'd 179 US 343 (1898); Shimp v N J Bell Tele Co, 145 N J Super 516; 368 A2d 408 (1976); Commonwealth v Hughes, 468 Pa 502; 364 A2d 306 (1976); and Smith v Western Elec Co, 643 SW2d 10, 13 (Mo App, 1982).

         As a matter of preventing Alzheimer's disease, the Michigan safe cigarettes law needs to be enforced. Please help. The law against this deleterious and adulterated product needs to be enforced. Please take "cease and desist" action to protect abulic smokers, children, and nonsmokers, by enforcing the safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216. Please take "cease and desist" action to halt the rampant violations.

Respectfully,

* * * Sample Letter C * * *

Col. Peter C. Munoz, Director
Department of State Police
714 South Harrison Road
East Lansing MI 48823

Dear Col. Peter C. Munoz:

         This is a request that, to help prevent one of the risk factors in Alzheimer's disase, you assign officers to enforce the safe cigarettes law, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216.

          Cigarettes are a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease. According to a recent study, A. Ott, et al., "Smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a population-based cohort study: the Rotterdam Study," The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9119. pages 1840-1843 (20 June 1998), "Smoking was associated with a doubling of the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease." "Smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and increases the risk of vascular dementia." So cigarettes are not only the general No. 1 cause of premature death, they also have a role as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease.

          The cigarette-Alzheimer's disease link occurs because of cigarettes' numerous toxic chemicals. The safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, bans unsafe cigarettes. It forbids "any person within the state" from action that "manufactures, sells or gives to anyone, any cigarette containing any ingredient deleterious to health or foreign to tobacco . . . ." Please, as an Alzheimer's disease prevention measure, work with prosecutors, assign officers to enforce the law, and aid county sheriffs and local police departments to do likewise.

         All cigarettes are deleterious, their label admits they are, and most if not all are adulterated with additives. MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, puts personal responsibility on those with most knowledge of the contraband substance (manufacturers and sellers), not on unwary consumers, often children.

         State Police enforcement action is a normal action that officers do in other state-wide law violation situations. There are precedents as well. Austin v State, 101 Tenn 563; 48 SW 305; 70 Am St Rep 703 (1898) aff'd 179 US 343 (1898); Shimp v N J Bell Tele Co, 145 N J Super 516; 368 A2d 408 (1976); Commonwealth v Hughes, 468 Pa 502; 364 A2d 306 (1976); and Smith v Western Elec Co, 643 SW2d 10, 13 (Mo App, 1982).

         As a matter of preventing Alzheimer's disease, the Michigan safe cigarettes law needs to be enforced. Please help. The law against this deleterious and adulterated product needs to be enforced. Please assign officers to protect abulic smokers, children, and nonsmokers, by enforcing the safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216. Please have them halt the rampant violations, and interdict deleterious and adulterated cigarettes.

Respectfully,

* * * Sample Letter D * * *

President George W. BushU.S. Senator _______U.S. Representative __Governor ___ State Senator __State Representative __
1600 Pennsylvania AvenueSenate Office BuildingHouse Office BuildingState CapitolState CapitolState Capitol
Washington DC 20500Washington DC 20510Washington DC 20515City State ZipCity State ZipCity State Zip

         This is a request that you take action to get a law passed that will serve as an Alzheimer's disease prevention law. Michigan already has such a law. It is law number MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216. It deals with the cigarette link to Alzheimer's disease.

          Cigarettes are a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease. According to a recent study, A. Ott, et al., "Smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a population-based cohort study: the Rotterdam Study," The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9119. pages 1840-1843 (20 June 1998), "Smoking was associated with a doubling of the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease." "Smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and increases the risk of vascular dementia." So cigarettes are not only the general No. 1 cause of premature death, they also have a role as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease.

          The cigarette-Alzheimer's disease link occurs because of cigarettes numerous toxic chemicals. The Michigan safe cigarettes act, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, bans unsafe cigarettes. Please, as an Alzheimer's disease prevention measure, get a copy of that law, which in essence forbids "any person within the state" from action that "manufactures, sells or gives to anyone, any cigarette containing any ingredient deleterious to health or foreign to tobacco . . . ."

         All cigarettes are deleterious, their label admits they are, and most if not all are adulterated with additives. MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, puts personal responsibility on those with most knowledge of the contraband substance (manufacturers and sellers), not on unwary consumers, often children. Michigan's well-written Alzheimer's disease prevention act deals with one of the key risk factors, unsafe cigarettes, and bans them. We need the same law for the protection and benefit of everyone. Smokers should not be discriminated against by being the only people regularly sold a deleterious product. Other deleterious products are recalled and taken off the market.

         As a matter of preventing Alzheimer's disease, everyone needs you to take action to get a safe cigarettes act passed. Please take action to copy the Michigan safe cigarettes law, MCL § 750.27, MSA § 28.216, so all of us can benefit from its wise prevention-oriented approach.

Respectfully,

Please re-type, add recipient addresses where unlisted,
add your name and return address, sign, and mail the above letters.
The person you save may be yourself or your friend.
If you wish, you can use different wording.

Discussion Group: More Participants Welcome

Notorious smokers whose policies in government were blatantly pro-tobacco were Pres. Ronald Reagan and Senator Jesse Helms. They developed Alzheimers. The chickens come home to roost.

This site is sponsored as a public service by
The Crime Prevention Group.

Please visit our tobacco effects overview site.

Copyright © 1999 Leroy J. Pletten