Memory damage sparked off by smoking

Tobacco dependency may be more closely linked to memory damage than alcohol abuse.

Not only is this bad news for smokers, but the news stems from fresh research, published in American periodical, the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs. The study compared women with a history of alcohol abuse, and those with a history of heavy smoking. It discovered that those who had smoked were less likely to score well in memory tests. These women were also more likely to be impaired mentally.

In terms of drinking, the study found that alcohol abuse made relatively little difference to cognitive function in middle-life, suggesting that in the long run smoking addiction can actually damage your mental health more than drinking can. It is however, worth noting that the drinkers who took part in the trial generally met the criteria for alcohol abuse – rather than the more serious category of dependency.

So it seems the many people who enjoy light to moderate regular drinking, are not condemned to mental impairment later on in their life as they might have sometimes feared.

For smokers, on the other hand, this study might set alarm bells ringing. It is not entirely clear why female smokers were affected by memory loss, while men were not. What we do know for definite (as proven by millions of fatalities around the world each year) is that smoking causes a multitude of health issues from heart disease to lung cancer, and erectile dysfunction to fertility problems. If memory loss is added to this list, that will surely give smokers even more incentive to seek out smoking cessation advice.

Extensive research shows that people who drink a lot are likely to smoke a lot too. Both substances are deeply ingrained in our culture, and yet their damaging health consequences are often overlooked.

They are both addictive, and share some of the same negative effects (for instance heart damage) as well as many different ones. Moderate alcohol intake can have health benefits, while the same cannot be said for smoking. If you are experiencing problems with either substance, you should consult a trained medical professional.