In a new study from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, researchers confirmed the associations between smoking and heart disease on cognitive function.
They found both impair people’s ability to learn and memorize; and that the effects of smoking are more pronounced among females, while males are more impaired by heart disease.
In the study, the team analyzed data representing more than 70,000 individuals worldwide.
These results suggest that smoking and cardiovascular disease impact verbal learning and memory throughout adulthood, starting as early as age 18.
Smoking is linked to decreased learning and memory function in women, while heart disease is associated with decreased learning and memory function in men.
Besides Alzheimer’s disease, the most significant cause of cognitive decline is known as “vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia” or VCID.
It arises from stroke and other vascular brain injuries that cause big changes to memory, thinking and behavior: smoking and heart disease exacerbate VCID.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disease and death worldwide, and is an important predictor of cognitive decline and VCID.
Vascular diseases also are linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s, which is the nation’s 6th leading cause of death.
Because the study included a wide range of adults, 18-85, it allowed researchers to assess the relationship between smoking, cardiovascular disease, and verbal memory in the broadest single study age range used to date.
The researchers noted that understanding the link between heart disease and cognitive function in young adults may be necessary for understanding possible treatment and intervention opportunities.
This study supports the importance of maintaining heart health and quitting smoking not only in support of their cancer care but to improve brain function.
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The study is published in Scientific Reports. One author of the study is Matt Huentelman, Ph.D.
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