Smoking can damage mind, study shows Brain function, memory
affected That cigarette may be doing more damage than meets the
eye. If you've been smoking for an extended period of time,
you're likely familiar with at least some -- if not all -- of
the bodily symptoms associated with smoking, including but
certainly not limited to: Cravings, coughing, shortness of
breath and changes to teeth, hair and skin. Coronary heart
disease and/or lung cancer might not be far behind. But a new
study published in the journal Age & Ageing concludes that
smoking can damage your mind, too. A consistent association was
observed between smoking and low global cognitive functioning,
including memory. The bottom line: Smoking and long-term high
blood pressure appear to increase the risk of cognitive decline.
How researchers did it Researchers at Kings College London set
out to explore the association between cardiovascular and stroke
risk and cognitive decline in adults over the age of 50. Working
with a nationally representative