Smoking increases the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• May 3, 2024

Smoke can raise the risk of suffering Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( THE A) , a chronic degenerative disease that causes motor neurons begin to die and with that a progressive muscle loss who has it, warned a study published by Archives of Neurology.

Researchers analyzed 5 longitudinal studies involving more than 1 million people, including people with ALS. The follow-up lasted between 7 and 28 years.

The results indicated that the risk of developing ALS in current smokers was 42% higher and 44% in former smokers. It was found that the risk of suffering from ALS increased 10% for each additional cigarette smoked per day and 9% for every 10 years of smoking, compared to people who had never smoked in their lives.

"Possible mechanisms have been suggested by which Smoking cigarettes influences the risk of suffering THE A , such as direct neuronal damage caused by nitric oxide other components of the cigarette or by oxidative stress "mentioned the Dr. Hao Wang, from the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues.

The study findings suggest that the smoking increases the risk of suffering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and that there are very important risk factors, such as the age at which the habit begins, so that the consequences of smoking and its effects on neurons should be investigated in much greater depth.

Source: Health Day and Archives of Neurology.

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