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To learn about the ongoing cognitive effects of smoking, researchers analyzed data from a large-scale, prospective study conducted in one Netherlands town. A total of 1964 participants took tests of memory function, speed of cognitive processes, and cognitive flexibility in middle age (age range, 43–70; 35% never-smokers, 44% ex-smokers, and 21% current smokers) and 5 years later.
The researchers excluded 60 people with stroke histories and adjusted results for baseline age; sex; education level; body-mass index; hypertension; cardiovascular disease; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; physical activity; and intake of alcohol, energy, fat, beta carotene, and vitamin C.
At baseline, smokers scored significantly lower than never-smokers in sp…