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A major review of more than 2 million people has found current smokers face a higher risk of dementia, with researchers calling for brain health to feature more prominently in antismoking campaigns.

Led by Curtin University researchers, the study examined the link between smoking and three forms of dementia, including all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, providing the most comprehensive update to the evidence in more than a decade.

The systematic review and meta-analysis examined 61 studies involving about 2.8 million people. The findings are published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

Researchers found people who currently smoke had a 31% higher risk of developing dementia, a 40% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and a 52% higher risk of vascular dementia than people who had never smoked.

The study also found the risk of dementia increased with the number of cigarettes smoked.

People smoking 10 cigarettes a day had a 16% higher risk of dementia, while those smoking 20 a day had a 34% higher risk, compared with people who had never smoked.

Lead researcher Mario Siervo, from the Dementia Center of Excellence at Curtin's enAble Institute and School of Population Health, said the findings highlighted the importance of looking beyond the well-known links between smoking, cancer and heart disease.

"We know smoking can cause serious harm to our health, but its impact on brain health also deserves attention," Siervo said.

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