Mental fog: Children who start vaping before the age of 14 are more likely to struggle with concentration, memory and decision making, study finds
- Studies show an association between vaping and mental fog in adults and children
- Symptoms include difficulty ascending, remembering or making decisions
- Those most who start using them before the age of 14 are at greatest risk
- Recommends that vaping should not be considered as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking
Vaping can be just as harmful to young people’s brains as tobacco smoking, according to a new study.
Both teens and adults who use e-cigarettes are more likely to have difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, say U.S. scientists.
However, the risk of mental ‘fogginess’ is greater for those who start the practice before the age of 14.
‘Our studies add to growing evidence that vaping should not be considered as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking,’ said the study’s lead author, Dongmei Li, of Rochester University, New York.
Both teenagers and adults who use e-cigarettes are more likely to have difficulty climbing, remembering or making decisions (stock)
The analysis of more than 900,000 people in the U.S. is the first to study a previously suggested association in animal experiments.
It showed those who were more vape and smoky – later those who did one or the other.
Mental activity problems were significantly higher among these groups than their non-vaping and non-smoking peers.
In addition, children who started vaping between the ages of eight and 13 were even more vulnerable than those who started at 14 or older.
Mental function problems were found to be significantly higher among smokers or smokers than their non-smoking and non-smoking peers.
‘With the recent rise in teenage vaping, this is a matter of great concern and suggests that we need to intervene even earlier,’ said Dr Li.
‘Prevention programs that start in middle or high school may be too late.’
Nicotine has been touted as a ‘brain poison’ for young people.
Adolescence is a critical time for brain development, especially for high-level mental activity such as attention, learning and memory.
This means that children and teens may be more prone to nicotine-induced brain changes, Dr. Li explained.
E-cigarettes deliver as much or even more nicotine as cigarettes, despite the fact that many other dangerous compounds are not found in tobacco, she said.
Flavors like mango, mint, straw and vanilla hide its harsh taste.
The activity of neurons in key regions of gray matter is known to change into the mid-20s.
Professor Li’s team was mining data on more than 18,000 participants in the National Juvenile Tobacco Survey and more than 886,000 adults from the Behavioral Risk Factors Factor System’s telephone survey.
Both were asked similar questions about smoking and vaping habits as well as issues with memory, attention and mental function.
The link between vaping and mental activity has been clearly identified – although the former is less obvious.
Nicotine exposure through vaping has the potential to cause a problem with mental function, Dr. Li said.
On the other hand, people who report ‘mental fog’ may be more likely to smoke or vape – perhaps self-medicate.
Dr Li and his colleagues say more studies that follow children and adults over time are needed to get to the root of the cause and effect. ‘
Previous research has shown that nicotine-induced changes to the brain during adolescence can be permanent.
Its damage can lead to long-term effects on decision-making ability and can also increase the risk of being added to other products.
Last year a study found that vaping damages the heart, lungs and blood vessels – including those that supply the brain.
The latest findings have been published in the journals Tobacco Product Diseases and PLOS One.