Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age

Janie Corley; Alan J. Gow; John M. Starr; Ian J. Deary

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006

Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age

Janie Corley, Alan J. Gow, John M. Starr, Ian J. Deary^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between smoking history and cognitive function in old age, and whether it remains after controlling for childhood cognitive ability (IQ) and adult socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study, 1080 men and women, who previously participated in a nationwide IQ-type test in childhood, were followed up at age 70. The associations between smoking history and age 70 IQ, general cognitive ability (g), processing speed, memory, and verbal ability were assessed.

Results: Lower childhood IQ was associated with a higher risk of becoming a smoker and continuing to smoke in late life, and with reduced lung function (FEV1) in late life. Current smokers scored significantly lower than ex-smokers and never smokers on tests of age 70 IQ general cognitive ability, and processing speed, but not memory or verbal ability. After controlling for childhood IQ and SES, current smoking at age 70 (but not pack years of smoking) was associated with impairments in general cognitive ability and processing speed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	132-138
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume	73
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006
Publication status	Published - Aug 2012

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Ageing
Cognitive function
Childhood IQ
Socioeconomic status
Smoking
MENTAL SURVEY 1932
CIGARETTE-SMOKING
BIRTH COHORT
LUNG-FUNCTION
MIDDLE-AGE
FOLLOW-UP
CESSATION
ABILITY
EDUCATION
BEHAVIOR

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006

Corley 2012 Smoking childhood IQ and cognitive function
© Corley, J., Gow, A. J., Starr, J. M., & Deary, I. J. (2012). Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 73(2), 132-138. 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006
Accepted author manuscript, 155 KB

Disconnected Mind [Phase 2]
Wardlaw, J.
UK-based charities
1/01/11 → 31/03/16
Project: Research
MRC Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology
Deary, I., Holmes, M., Logie, P., McCulloch, J., Porteous, D., Roberts, N., Seckl, J., Starr, J. & Wardlaw, J.
MRC
1/09/08 → 31/08/13
Project: Research
The Disconnected Mind [Phase 1]: Main Grant
McCulloch, J., Bastin, M., Deary, I., Horsburgh, K., Morris, R., Starr, J. & Wardlaw, J.
UK-based charities
1/07/07 → 31/12/11
Project: Research

Cite this

@article{01c33ad526094523bd6545a9865960c2,

title = "Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age",

abstract = "Objectives: To examine the association between smoking history and cognitive function in old age, and whether it remains after controlling for childhood cognitive ability (IQ) and adult socioeconomic status (SES).Methods: In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study, 1080 men and women, who previously participated in a nationwide IQ-type test in childhood, were followed up at age 70. The associations between smoking history and age 70 IQ, general cognitive ability (g), processing speed, memory, and verbal ability were assessed.Results: Lower childhood IQ was associated with a higher risk of becoming a smoker and continuing to smoke in late life, and with reduced lung function (FEV1) in late life. Current smokers scored significantly lower than ex-smokers and never smokers on tests of age 70 IQ general cognitive ability, and processing speed, but not memory or verbal ability. After controlling for childhood IQ and SES, current smoking at age 70 (but not pack years of smoking) was associated with impairments in general cognitive ability and processing speed.Conclusion: Smoking in old age makes a small, independent contribution to cognitive performance in old age. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Ageing, Cognitive function, Childhood IQ, Socioeconomic status, Smoking, MENTAL SURVEY 1932, CIGARETTE-SMOKING, BIRTH COHORT, LUNG-FUNCTION, MIDDLE-AGE, FOLLOW-UP, CESSATION, ABILITY, EDUCATION, BEHAVIOR",

author = "Janie Corley and Gow, {Alan J.} and Starr, {John M.} and Deary, {Ian J.}",

year = "2012",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006",

language = "English",

volume = "73",

pages = "132--138",

journal = "Journal of Psychosomatic Research",

issn = "0022-3999",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "2",

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T1 - Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age

AU - Corley, Janie

AU - Gow, Alan J.

AU - Starr, John M.

AU - Deary, Ian J.

PY - 2012/8

Y1 - 2012/8

N2 - Objectives: To examine the association between smoking history and cognitive function in old age, and whether it remains after controlling for childhood cognitive ability (IQ) and adult socioeconomic status (SES).Methods: In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study, 1080 men and women, who previously participated in a nationwide IQ-type test in childhood, were followed up at age 70. The associations between smoking history and age 70 IQ, general cognitive ability (g), processing speed, memory, and verbal ability were assessed.Results: Lower childhood IQ was associated with a higher risk of becoming a smoker and continuing to smoke in late life, and with reduced lung function (FEV1) in late life. Current smokers scored significantly lower than ex-smokers and never smokers on tests of age 70 IQ general cognitive ability, and processing speed, but not memory or verbal ability. After controlling for childhood IQ and SES, current smoking at age 70 (but not pack years of smoking) was associated with impairments in general cognitive ability and processing speed.Conclusion: Smoking in old age makes a small, independent contribution to cognitive performance in old age. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AB - Objectives: To examine the association between smoking history and cognitive function in old age, and whether it remains after controlling for childhood cognitive ability (IQ) and adult socioeconomic status (SES).Methods: In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study, 1080 men and women, who previously participated in a nationwide IQ-type test in childhood, were followed up at age 70. The associations between smoking history and age 70 IQ, general cognitive ability (g), processing speed, memory, and verbal ability were assessed.Results: Lower childhood IQ was associated with a higher risk of becoming a smoker and continuing to smoke in late life, and with reduced lung function (FEV1) in late life. Current smokers scored significantly lower than ex-smokers and never smokers on tests of age 70 IQ general cognitive ability, and processing speed, but not memory or verbal ability. After controlling for childhood IQ and SES, current smoking at age 70 (but not pack years of smoking) was associated with impairments in general cognitive ability and processing speed.Conclusion: Smoking in old age makes a small, independent contribution to cognitive performance in old age. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KW - Ageing

KW - Cognitive function

KW - Childhood IQ

KW - Socioeconomic status

KW - Smoking

KW - MENTAL SURVEY 1932

KW - CIGARETTE-SMOKING

KW - BIRTH COHORT

KW - LUNG-FUNCTION

KW - MIDDLE-AGE

KW - FOLLOW-UP

KW - CESSATION

KW - ABILITY

KW - EDUCATION

KW - BEHAVIOR

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006

DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.03.006

M3 - Article

C2 - 22789417

SN - 0022-3999

VL - 73

SP - 132

EP - 138

JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

IS - 2

ER -

Smoking, childhood IQ and cognitive function in old age

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Projects

Disconnected Mind [Phase 2]

MRC Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology

The Disconnected Mind [Phase 1]: Main Grant

Cite this