Tobacco Use at a Young Age Reduces Cognitive Function

A study published in JAMA Network Open observed that tobacco use in younger patients is associated with reduced cognitive function and structural brain changes. Currently, the FDA is working on increasing regulation for e-cigarettes and other related smoking products. Understanding the effects of smoking at a pediatric level may help inform further rules.

According to this publication, approximately 4.7% of middle school students have reported using e-cigarettes within the past 30 days. For high school students, that number rises to 19.6%.

“This cohort study sheds light on the association of health effects with early initiation of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products. These results are consistent with results from animal models that indicate that a short exposure period or low plasma nicotine concentration could lead to lasting cellular and neuritic damages,” stated researchers in the publication.

This observational cohort study looked at 11,729 participants between 9 and 10 years old. Of those participants, only 116 had reported using tobacco products. Of those who reported using tobacco products, 80% admitted to the use of cigarettes, both electronic and traditional.

Tobacco users scored lower on picture vocabulary tests, oral reading recognition, auditory comprehension, crystalized cognition composites, and had an impact on brain structure.

On picture vocabulary tests, tobacco users scored approximately 2.9 points lower than non-tobacco users. Similarly, cognition composite scores were about 2.4 points lower for tobacco users.

Oral reading recognition scores were 2.1 points higher in non-tobacco users than tobacco users.

In addition to the cognitive testing done on these participants, researchers took structural MRI (sMRI) scans and found a significantly reduced cortical surface area and volume. The main brain areas affected were the superior frontal gyri, lateral temporal cortices, and inferior parietal lobes — areas of the brain that predominantly affect speech and language processing.

“Results of this cohort study suggest that initiation of tobacco use in late childhood at 9 to 10 years of age is associated with inferior cognitive performance and brain development with sustained effects at the 2-year follow-up. Electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products should not be treated as harm-reduction alternatives for youth. Comprehensive intervention strategies and tobacco control policies are needed to prevent tobacco initiation,” concluded the clinicians in the study.