Cognitive profile in tobacco smokers: relationship with respiratory parameters and oxidative stress

Abstract

Smoking tobacco affects the central nervous system in several ways including decreased brain oxygen supply and alterated metabolism of gasotransmissors such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. However, the relations of these effects with smoking-induced cognitive impairment are largely unknown and will be explored in this project by two experiments: 1) a cross-sectional study with 80 subjects in order to characterize the cognitive impairment of smokers and determine how these deficits are related to respiratory parameters/oxidative stress in young adults with high and low cognitive stimulation (schooling / socioeconomic status), since the latter affects both smoking habits and cognition; and 2) evaluate the effects of daily practice of breathing exercises [kapalabhati technique,which activates the sympathetic system; nadi shodhana technique, which activates the parasympathetic system; or performing sudoko/crossword, anactive control for the attentional aspect of breathing practices] for 8 weeks on cognition, mood and respiratory parameters/oxidative stress in smokers, since such exercises are capable of positively affecting these functions ( 20 subjects per group). This study has the potential to determine factors that predispose smokers to develop cognitive problems and proposes a possible harm reduction technique in this population.