Mental fog: Children who start to evaporate before the age of 14 have more difficulty with concentration, memory and decision-making, the study finds
- Studies show a link between evaporation and mental fog in adults and children
- Symptoms include difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Those who adopt the habit before the age of 14 run the greatest risk
- Suggests vaping should not be considered a safe alternative to tobacco smoking
According to new research, evaporation can be just as harmful to the brains of young people as tobacco smoke.
U.S. scientists are more likely that teens and adults who use e-cigarettes have difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions.
However, the risk of mental ‘fog’ further increases for those who adopt the habit before the age of 14.
“Our studies are contributing to increasing evidence that vaping should not be considered a safe alternative to tobacco smoking,” said the study’s lead author, prof. Dongmei Li, of the University of Rochester, New York, said.
Teens and adults who use e-cigarettes are more likely to have difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions (stock)
The analysis of more than 900,000 people in the US is the first to examine a link previously suggested during animal experiments.
It showed that those who vape and smoke were most likely – followed by those who did one or the other.
Mental function problems were significantly higher among these groups than their non-vaping and non-smoking counterparts.
What’s more, children who started evaporating between the ages of eight and 13 were even more vulnerable than those who started at 14 or older.
Problems with mental function were found to be significantly higher among people who bumped or smoked than their non-armed and non-smoking counterparts.
“With the recent increase in teenage reinforcement, it is very worrying and indicates that we need to intervene earlier,” said Prof Li.
“Prevention programs that start in middle or high school may actually be too late.”
Nicotine is called ‘brain poison’ for young people.
Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, especially for higher-order mental functions such as attention, learning, and memory.
This means children and teenagers may be more susceptible to brain changes caused by nicotine, Prof Li explained.
E-cigarettes produce as much or even more nicotine than cigarettes, despite the fact that there are many other dangerous compounds in tobacco, she said.
Flavors such as mango, mint, strawberry and vanilla mask its harsh taste.
It is known that the activity of neurons in key areas changes from gray matter that ripens until the mid-20s.
Prof Li’s team extracted data on more than 18,000 participants in the National Youth Tobacco Survey and more than 886,000 adults from the telephone survey of the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Both were asked similar questions about smoking and vapor habits, as well as problems with memory, attention, and mental function.
An association between vaping and mental function has been clearly identified – although what is at the forefront is less obvious.
It is possible that exposure to nicotine through vaping causes problems with mental function, Prof Li said.
On the other hand, people who report ‘mental fog’ may simply be more likely to smoke or evaporate – possibly taking self-medication.
Prof Li and colleagues say further studies that children and adults follow over time are needed to find the cause and effect.
Previous research has shown that changes in the brain during adolescence can be caused by nicotine.
Its damage can lead to long-term effects on the ability to make decisions and can also leave an increased risk of addiction to other substances.
Last year, a study found that fumes damage the heart, lungs and blood vessels – including those that supply the brain.
The latest findings have been published in the journals Tobacco Induced Diseases and PLOS One.