Aging and smoking are both significant global concerns, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to explore the potential relationship between smoking cessation duration and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese. The data comes from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) wave 4. Smoking information was collected by standardized questionnaire. MMSE and CERAD word recall test were used to evaluate cognitive function. Using restricted cubic spline (RCS) to explore curvilinear relationship. After discretizing the duration of ex-smokers (quitting ≤2 years, 3-8 years, 9-19 years and ≥20 years), multiple linear regression models were established with current smokers as reference. A total of 5561 respondents (67.7±6.2 years; 54.1% men) were included. RCS showed that respondents who quit smoking for longer performed better global cognitive function. This trend leveled off among respondents who had quit smoking for ≥20 years. There were significant differences in global cognitive function among those who quit smoking for ≥ 9 years (9-19 years, β=0.75, 95%CI 0.32 to 1.18; ≥20 years, β=0.94, 95%CI 0.42 to 1.46). The differences mainly came from men. In immediate memory, all ex-smokers performed better (P<0.05). In delayed memory, only those quit for ≥9 years had significant differences (9-19 years, β=0.33, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.63; ≥20 years, β=0.50, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.87). Compared with current smokers, both never smokers and ex-smokers performed better cognitive function. Respondents who quit smoking for longer had better cognitive performance, especially those who had quit for at least 9 years.

Authors:
Wenhang Zuo, Sichuan University, China
Jin Peng, Sichuan University, China
Jinhui Wu, Sichuan University, China

About the Presenter(s)
Wenghang Zuo is a doctoral candidate in National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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