Cigarette smoking and cognitive decline in midlife: evidence from a prospective birth cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the effects of cigarette smoking on midlife cognitive performance.


METHODS
Multiple regression was used to test the association between cigarette smoking and changes in cognitive test scores among male and female members of the British 1946 birth cohort aged between 43 and 53 years.


RESULTS
Smoking was associated with faster declines in verbal memory and with slower visual search speeds. These effects were largely accounted for by individuals who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day and were independent of sex, socioeconomic status, previous (adolescent) cognitive ability, and a range of health indicators.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results show that heavy smoking is associated with cognitive impairment and decline in midlife. Smokers who survive into later life may be at risk of clinically significant cognitive declines.
Richards
Marcus
M
Medical Research Council, National Survey of Health and Development, University College London, London, England. m.richards@ucl.ac.uk
Jarvis
Martin J
MJ
Thompson
Neil
N
Wadsworth
Michael E J
ME
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009790:Occupations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D012923:Social Class; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology