Assessing the Biological Mechanisms linking Smoking Behavior and Alzheimer’s Disease: Mediation Analysis of Metabolomic Data

Smoking is the most significant preventable health hazard in the modern world. It increases the risk of vascular problems, which are also risk factors for dementia. In addition, toxins in cigarettes increase oxidative stress and inflammation, which also have both been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, the molecular mechanisms between smoking and ADRD are not well established. This study characterized these mechanisms using metabolomics data from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP).