Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Neurocognitive Performance in Dementia Patients

<p>Dementia has become a serious problem worldwide due to the rapidly increasing incidence rate and the lack of effective treatments that cure or slow disease progression, and thus. prevention is crucial. Some studies suggests that cigarette smoking may increase the risk of developing dementia, but others suggest that smoking may have a neuroprotective effect. To clarify our understanding of the relationship between cigarette smoking and dementia, this study examined the effects of smoking on multiple cognitive domains via secondary data analysis of a sample consisting of 54% female subjects with an average age of 58±13 years. Measures of executive function, verbal memory, attention, and processing speed were administered to two groups of dementia patients, never smokers and current/former smokers. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to test smoking status as a predictor of functioning in each of these four cognitive domains after controlling for potentially confounding factors such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, and substance use. No relationship was found between smoking, any of the covariates, and cognitive performance in any domain. Future research should utilize a prospective design and administer neuropsychological batteries to participants in early or middle adulthood who have not been yet diagnosed with dementia.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Mannino, Christina

Contributors dc:contributor

• Morrell, Holly E. R.
• Arechiga, Adam L.
• Haerich, Paul E.

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychology
• Dementia; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Cognition Disorders; Memory Disorders; Smoking - Adverse Effects
• Neuroprotective Effects; Cigarette Smoking; Hierarchical Linear Regression Analysis

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/196

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1204