Childhood exposure to parental smoking linked to poor memory in midlife
London, April 16 (IANS) Exposure to parental smoking in childhood and adolescence has been linked with poorer learning ability and memory in midlife.
According to the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, with the ageing population, cognitive deficits such as difficulties in learning and memory are becoming more common.
Active smoking is known to be detrimental to cognitive function and to contribute to the occurrence of cognitive deficits. Similar short-term associations have been observed for second-hand smoking.
Results from a longitudinal Finnish study showed that the harmful effects of childhood second-hand smoking exposure may carry over to midlife learning ability and memory function.
"Previous studies have focused on adulthood exposure or on the short-term effects of childhood exposure, whereas this study brings novel information on the long-term associations between secondhand smoking exposure in childhood and cognitive function in midlife," said study researcher from the University of Turku in Finland.
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