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Effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol use on neurocognition and BDNF levels in a Chinese population

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Abstract

Objective

Few studies have examined the potential interactive effect of both smoking and drinking on cognition. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in cognition. This is the first study to examine the neurocognitive consequences of cigarette smoking combined with chronic alcohol consumption and their relationship to serum BDNF levels in a Chinese Han population.

Materials and methods

We recruited 191 healthy male subjects, including 47 isolated smokers, 31 isolated chronic alcohol users, 58 combined smokers and chronic alcohol users, and 55 non-smokers and non-alcohol users. We then compared the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) scores and serum BDNF levels in these four groups.

Results

When compared to the non-smoking + non-alcohol-using group, the smoking group performed worse on immediate memory, attention, language, and RBANS total score. There were no significant differences in the RBANS scores between the alcohol-using group and non-smoking + non-alcohol-using group, or between the smoking group and smoking + alcohol-using group. We did not find an association between BDNF and smoking or drinking status or between BDNF and cognitive performance. In the smoking group, there was a significant correlation between BDNF and carbon monoxide concentration, and between BDNF and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) total score.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that smoking is associated with cognitive decline, but not with BDNF levels in a normal population. However, smoking severity is positively associated with BDNF levels. Concomitant alcohol use does not worsen the cognitive decline caused by smoking.

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Acknowledgment

Funding for this study was provided by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371477), the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (7132063 and 7072035), the NARSAD Independent Investigator Grant (20314), and the Stanley Medical Research Institute (03T-459 and 05T-726).

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  1. Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Xiang Yang Zhang, Yun-Long Tan, Da-Chun Chen, Shu-Ping Tan & Fu-De Yang

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Xiang Yang Zhang, Giovana B. Zunta-Soares & Jair C Soares

  3. UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders (UTCEMD), Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Building, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Xiang Yang Zhang

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Zhang, X.Y., Tan, YL., Chen, DC. et al. Effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol use on neurocognition and BDNF levels in a Chinese population. Psychopharmacology 233, 435–445 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4124-6

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