Those who claim that smoking keeps their memory more alert have just run out of arguments for not giving up cigarettes. A new experiment carried out by Northumbria University (United Kingdom) published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence reveals that smokers who quit tobacco go from remembering 59% of the tasks in a prospective memory test to remembering 74% . Prospective memory allows us to formulate and carry out future intentions, and is a key element when coordinating and controlling most of our daily actions , such as taking the keys before leaving the house, preparing food, going to an appointment or take certain medications.
In the experiments, the scientists also showed that people who have never smoked obtain 81% correct answers in the same memory tests. "We know that quitting smoking has health benefits for the body, but this study shows for the first time that it also improves cognitive functions," explains Tom Hefernan, co-author of the work. The next step will be to study whether exposure to secondhand smoke from so-called "passive smokers" has similar effects on the brain.
