More research has been published linking smoking to health risks - with a study suggesting the habit affects IQ

Researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh looked at how the cognitive abilities of smokers and non-smokers changed over time.

They found smokers performed significantly worse in five separate tests.

The research, part of the Scottish Mental Health Survey, is published in New Scientist magazine.

Around 465 people were tested on their mental abilities in 1947 when they were aged 11.

They were then tested a second time between 2002 and 2002, when they reached the age of 64.

On this occasion they underwent tests to evaluate their non-verbal reasoning, memory and learning, how quickly they processed information, decisions about how to act in particular circumstances and construction tasks.

Current or former smokers were found to perform less well in the tests even after factors such as childhood IQ, education, occupation and alcohol consumption were taken into account.

The effect appeared to be stronger in current smokers according to the study, which was also published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Intellectual development

The researchers suggest a "small but significant" negative effect of 4% linked to the combined effects of smoking and impaired lung function - itself linked to smoking.

It has been suggested in previous studies that there could be a link between impaired lung function and a negative effect on the thinking processes, but it is not clear what the mechanism for that might be.

Dr Lawrence Whalley of the University of Aberdeen, who led the research, said the explanation could be that smoking causes oxidative stress - cumulative damage caused by molecules called "free radicals" - to organs including the brain.

"Ageing neurons are very sensitive to oxidative damage."

Writing in Addictive Behaviors, Dr Whalley added: "The harmful effects of smoking on lung function are well established."

But he said the detrimental effect on cognition could be due to be attributable to poor heart and lung function affecting the brain, or directly harmful effects of smoking on brain - as well as lung - tissue.

Amanda Sandford, of the group Action on Smoking and Health said: "It would appear that the well-worn cliché that 'smoking stunts your growth' may be true when it comes to intellectual development.

"Contrary to what many people commonly believe - that smoking may help brain function, it is in fact more likely to wreak havoc with brain cells and IQ.

"Any teenager tempted to smoke should heed the message that it really is dumb to take up this noxious habit."

Get a look at a smoker's blood and a non-smoker's blood. Anything that is bad for the blood is bad for all body tissues.

My Mom and Dad both smoked like Chimneys. Dad had an MI in 1997 and has significantly reduced his life expectancy. Mom died of cancer in 2002 at 61.

My daughter has come to believe that smoking killed her grandmother and nearly her grandfather. I won't dispell that. She even publicly scolds smokers, and I don't mind. I know it's horribly addictive, but it's a major health risk and when I see the numbers of young people (mostly girls and women I see) I can't help but wonder what the fack is going on. My parents started smoking when it was considered "healthy." We know this crap kills you now.

The other day outside the mall I saw this girl, maybe 15 or 16. She must have been 100lbs overweight and was standing outside smoking. At least she won't be a drain on the Canada Pension Plan...

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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I have been fighting the devil (smoking) for 2 yrs now. I am 32 and have smoked since I was a teen. The last 2-3yrs I have gone from being a daily smoker to 2-3 cigarrettes a night when I get home. I cannot smoke at work because it drains my energy so bad. I hate how I feel when I smoke during the day. I have just gone to smoking a couple each nite. I then go to bed and fall into a coma until morning.

Now I am not an alcoholic but I do enjoy beers with the guys or wine with the wife on weekends. If I have a few drinks I will smoke a damn pack of cigs in one night. I could quit smokin if I would TOTALLY cut out the booze. I enjoy my occasional drinks.

I also have a 3 yr old I am trying to set an example for. I sneak outside and hide if she comes out to find daddy. TIME TO QUIT!!

Ah hell, I should just throw all caution to the wind and start drinkin and smokin all the time

Theres the answer...

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I don't want to come over all scientific, but there are alternative explanations for smokers declining abilities. Smokers may neglect their general health. They are more likely to belong to lower-income socioeconomic groups, with all that entails. They are more likely to drink heavily. Factoring these other potential causes out is no trivial proceedure.

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Well, you're in Aberdeen -- straighten these folks out!

I'm wondering if the smokers were thinking about popping out for a quick puff while they were doing those cognitive tests. I know our postdoc gets a little distracted when he's itching for a cig.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that smoking cigarettes is totally ****ing stupid?

Pretty well describes me when I smoked.

I quit, which resulted in sobriety, instant wealth, and an ebullient nature. Oh yeah, i got real smart, too.

Ain't statistics wonderful? Do a correlation study with all kinds of covariates and autocorrelations, pop out a big r^2 and go to print.

That reminds me of this:

ARTIST: Dire Straits
TITLE: Money for Nothing

I want my, I want my MTV
I want my, I want my MTV

Now look at them yo-yo's, that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on that MTV
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb

{Refrain}
We got to install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators
We got to move these color TV's

The little ****** with the earring and the makeup
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little ****** got his own jet airplane
That little ****** he's a millionaire

{Refrain}

I shoulda learned to play the guitar
I shoulda learned to play them drums
Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera
Man we could have some
And he's up there, what's that, Hawaiian noises
Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee
Oh, that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Get your money for nothin' get your chicks for free

{Refrain}

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on that MTV
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Money for nothin' and chicks for free
I want my, I want my, I want my MTV
{Repeat, ad lib to fade}