Crack-cocaine dependence and aging: effects on working memory.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the working memory (WM) performance of young adult crack-cocaine dependent users, healthy older adults, and a control group of healthy young adults.


METHODS
A total of 77 female participants took part in this study: 26 young adult crack-cocaine dependent users (CRK), 19 healthy older adults (HO), and 32 healthy younger adults (HC). All participants completed the N-back verbal task.


RESULTS
A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed. The model included education, income, and medication use as covariates. A group effect (F6,140 = 7.192, p < 0.001) was found. Post-hoc analyses showed that the performance of the CRK and HO groups was reduced compared to the HC group in two N-back conditions. No differences between the HO and CRK groups on WM performance were found.


CONCLUSIONS
CRK participants perform similar to HO participants on a WM task, despite the well-known effects of age on WM and the young age of CRK. These data point to a possible parallel between cognitive declines associated with crack use and developmental aging.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group (GNCD), Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress (NEPTE), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Breno
B
Sanvicente-Vieira
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group (GNCD), Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress (NEPTE), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Júlia
J
Kommers-Molina
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group (GNCD), Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress (NEPTE), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Tatiana
T
De Nardi
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group (GNCD), Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress (NEPTE), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Ingrid
I
Francke
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group (GNCD), Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress (NEPTE), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Rodrigo
R
Grassi-Oliveira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D016578:Crack Cocaine