[Cognitive modifications associated with tobacco smoking].
BACKGROUND
Tobacco is an important source of somatic diseases and causes high mortality. It is associated with cognitive disorders which tend to maintain addictive mechanisms. In the short term, the nicotine contained in tobacco enhances attention and memory.


METHODS
To realize this review, we made a research, we made a research on Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Google Scholar using the single or combined key-words "tobacco", "nicotine", "addiction", "dependence", "cognitive disorders", "executive function", "memory", "attention", "neuropsychological". We selected English or French articles from 1987 to 2008 by privileging controlled studies.


RESULTS
This effect can be observed in smokers (with or without withdrawal symptoms), non-smokers and in patients suffering from cognitive disorders. In the long term, tobacco accelerates dementia processes. It is associated with an increased risk of cognitive deterioration. This deterioration concerns mainly memory and processing speed. These results were reported in prospective studies. They contradict early reports, that suggested smoking could actually be protective against certain central neural system disorders. These early results relayed on case-control studies, which were certainly biased by a "healthy survival effect". Further studies are required to evaluate nicotine's long term effect and its potential efficacy in treating and preventing cognitive disorders or dementia.
Lecacheux
Marie
M
Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, INSERM U669, Paris, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.
Karila
Laurent
L
Aubin
Henri-Jean
HJ
Dupont
Patrick
P
Benyamina
Amine
A
Maman
Judith
J
Lebert
Amandine
A
Reynaud
Michel
M
D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000633:toxicity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine