许多人吸烟后都发现自己的记忆力有所下降，而英国一项研究显示，如果戒烟，记忆力就可以得到一定程度的恢复。
英国诺森布里亚大学20日发布公告说，该校研究人员对一些志愿者进行了记忆测试，这些志愿者包括吸烟者、戒烟者和从不吸烟者。他们被要求在校园中的一些指定地点完成预先交代的一系列任务。
结果显示，吸烟者群体的记忆力表现最差，平均只能记起59%的任务；而从不吸烟的群体表现最好，平均能记起81%的任务。那些已经戒烟者也有较好的表现，平均能记起74%的任务。
参与研究的汤姆·赫弗南指出，本次研究显示了戒烟能够帮助改善认知能力。吸烟者如果戒烟，记忆力有望得到一定程度的恢复。
这项研究成果已经发表在美国《药物和酒精依赖》杂志上。
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生物探索推荐原文摘要：
Smoking-related prospective memory deficits in a real-world task
Background
Smokers, previous smokers and a never smoked group were compared on self-reported and real world prospective memory (PM – the cognitive ability of remembering to carry out particular actions at some future point in time).
Methods
Twenty-seven current smokers, 24 people who had never smoked and 18 previous smokers were compared using an existing groups design. Scores on the long and short term PM subscales of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and scores on a Real World Prospective Memory Task (RWPMT) constituted the dependent measures. Smoking and other drug use were assessed by a Recreational Drug Use Questionnaire. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale gauged levels of anxiety and depression. The National Adult Reading Test measured IQ, and retrospective memory was measured using the PRMQ. Gender, age, anxiety and depression, IQ, alcohol use and the retrospective memory scores, were measured as covariates and controlled for in the analysis.
Results
A series of univariate ANCOVAs were applied to the main PM data across the three groups, controlling for variations in age, gender, mood, IQ, alcohol use and retrospective memory scores. These revealed no significant between-group differences on self-reported PM; however smokers recalled significantly fewer action–location combinations than the never smoked and previous smoker groups on the objective RWPMT.
Conclusions
Existing smokers showed reduced performance on RWPMT when compared to the never smoked group and previous smokers. Real-world PM impairments should be added to a growing list of neuropsychological sequelae associated with persistent smoking.
