Smoking fumes harm memory

EXPOSURE to second-hand tobacco smoke can affect memory and mental ability in older people.

Research based on 2,000 nonsmokers aged 65 and over found that those exposed to secondhand smoke at some time in their lives had reduced working memory and cognitive impairment.

Exposure was measured by blood levels of chemicals associated with second-hand smoke. Those exposed to the highest levels had a 64 per cent higher risk of cognitive impairment and a 38 per cent higher risk of memory problems, reports the journal Environmental Research.