Nicotine smoking is associated with impaired cognitive performance in Pakistani young people

Nicotine smoking is the most common mode of tobacco smoking among young people. It affects the areas of the brain associated with memory, attention, and learning. This study has investigated the effect of nicotine smoking on cognitive performance. One hundred male volunteers (50 nicotine smokers and 50 nonsmokers) aged 18-30 years with similar socioeconomic backgrounds were recruited for this study. Clinical history of participants was obtained using a questionnaire. Their brain health and handedness were determined using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI), respectively. The dependent variables examined in the study were attention-switching tasks (AST), pattern recognition memory (PRM), and choice reaction time (CRT). These parameters were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB). The average ages of participating smokers and nonsmokers were 24.02 +/- 3.41 years (mean +/- standard deviation) and 22.68 +/- 1.87 years, respectively. MMSE and EHI scores of smokers were 28.42 +/- 1.09 and 99.75 +/- 1.77, respectively; for nonsmokers, these scores were 28.54 +/- 1.34 and 98 +/- 1.91, respectively. The mean score for AST correct latency/delay was significantly higher (p = 0.050) in smokers (620.26 +/- 142.03) than in nonsmokers (570.11 +/- 108.39). The percentage of correct AST trials was significantly higher (p = 0.000) in nonsmokers (96.95 +/- 2.18) than in smokers (83.75 +/- 11.22). The PRM percent correct were significantly higher (p = 0.000) of nonsmokers (93.42 +/- 8.34) than of smokers (79.75 +/- 13.44). The mean correct latency for CRT was significantly higher (p = 0.009) in smokers (509.87 +/- 129.83) than in nonsmokers (455.20 +/- 65.73). From this data, it can be concluded that nicotine smoking is linked with impaired cognitive functions in smokers.