A new meta-analysis of 17 studies has found that smokers ages 60 and older were 83% more likely to die at any given age, compared with people who never smoked. The increased risk was reduced to 34% for former smokers. Quitting smoking was found to be life-extending even in people ages 80 and older. One in two elderly smokers will die from tobacco-related causes.

Link: Smoking and All-cause Mortality in Older People is online