Combined impact of smoking and heavy alcohol use on cognitive decline in early old age: Whitehall II prospective cohort study

Identifying modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline may inform prevention of dementia.


To examine the combined impact of cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption on cognitive decline from midlife.


Prospective cohort study (Whitehall II cohort) with three clinical examinations in 1997/99, 2002/04 and 2007/09. Participants were 6473 adults (72% men), mean