People who smoke heavily seem to suffer memory loss in middle age according to a new study from Great Britain. Researchers found that people in their 50s who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day had poorer verbal- memory and visual-speed skills. Researchers said the participants were too young to determine whether the declines would lead to serious cognitive problems in old age. But smoking has been identified as a risk factor for dementia because it restricts blood flow in the brain and raises the risk of narrowed arteries and mini-strokes. The researchers plan to continue to measure the memory skills of this group as they get older.
Source: Richards, M., Jarvis, M., et al American Journal of Public Health June 2003