Does quitting smoking affect your memory?

Question

My brother is usually pretty good about remembering stuff. Two weeks ago we had a birthday party for him and my son. My brother forgot to get my son a present. Then my brother was going to bring my sons present on Father's day. He forgot. He told my son he would run his present over Monday after work. We have not heard from him yet so I emailed him today and he said he completely forgot AGAIN! He couldn't even remember what they had discussed as a gift or when he said he'd drop it off.

He is trying to quit smoking and I am just wondering if it has anything to do with his memory loss? Has anyone who's tried to quit smoking or has quit smoking experienced this?

Answer 1

YES. In fact it can have an effect short term on intelligence. I recall a double blind study a few years ago involving nicotine where subjects took IQ tests. The subjects on nicotine scored significantly higher than the ones on the placebo. I can tell you for a fact when I have tried to quit smoking I can not think straight at all. I can't focus...become scatterbrained. I don't think this is permanent if he can beat it...just try to bear with him til he can.

Answer 2

YES!!!! I quit 1 1/2 year ago and for the first 3 months I was tired all the time (to the point of being groggy)...also a little depressed on top of being in a really nasty mood. The memory sucked..because of the grogginess. This is completely normal. Nicotine raises your heart rate/blood pressure. When you stop smoking the rates return to normal and the person naturally feels much more tired that usual and a lack of concentration and memory follow quickly. Tell your brother not to worry, This levels off and pretty soon he'll be back to himself and feeling SO much better than he did while smoking. As family give him ALL the support and understanding you can...he needs it big time right now! Give him my congrats!!

Answer 3

Smoking is related to diminished thinking ability in men. However, it's likely that your brother is thinking so much about trying not to smoke that he can't concentrate on much else. In the grand scheme of things, quitting smoking is far more important than a birthday present. It's helping to make sure that your brother can be an uncle to your son for long time to come.

I did find an article that might help you some, although it mostly pertains to long-term smokers.

Answer 4

Yes. The whole reason why people are so drawn to smoking is that it is a drug and it elicits a neurochemical response, which is immediate and profound. After years of jacking up the brain's production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotinin artificially, removing that stimulus may cause a deficiency of those essential memory making molecules. The best thing is to give the body time to heal, and provide it with the building blocks it needs to do so: Fish Oil, Vitamin E, and Lecithin are good. Also, taking SAM-E can jack up all of your body's neurotransmitters, but without coercing the body, and with added side benefits like liver detoxification and joint health.

Answer 5

In long term, it should improve everything, health, memory, etc. However, in the process of quitting it will make things worse for awhile since your body gets so used to the nicotine. It will distract you and make you more irritable. You'll forget more, in extreme cases you may even experience hallucinations and the like. So, just wait it out and it will be better. If it's not, then it's probably from some other cause.

Answer 6

Quitting cigarettes is tough and there can be side affects like nervousness, mood swings, eating binges, etc.

He would have to be extremely addicted to smoking to exhibit that kind of memory loss. It would appear that there is more going on in his life than that. Health issue? Job issue?

You may want to speak to him to see if you can help or whether he needs to talk. At the very least, bring the memory "loss" to his attention. Be nice, but let him know that your son is disappointed.

Family is important and you may be able to help him.

Good luck.

Answer 7

It doesn't seem that quitting is the problem. It is the fact that he smoked to begin with.....

"Smokers often say that smoking a cigarette helps them concentrate and feel more alert, but years of tobacco use may have the opposite effect, dimming the speed and accuracy of a person's thinking ability and bringing down his IQ, according to a study by U-M researchers."

"While the researchers confirmed previous findings that alcoholism is associated with thinking problems and lower IQ, their analysis also revealed that long-term smoking is too. The effect on memory, problem-solving and IQ was most pronounced among those who had smoked for years. Among the alcoholic men, smoking was associated with diminished thinking ability even after alcohol and drug use were accounted for."

Answer 8

I quit about 5 months ago, because I found out I was pregnant. I have trouble remembering things off and on but Im always like that. My husband quit to and hasnt had any trouble with his memory...just picked up an oreo habit.

Answer 9

Quitting smoking is overcoming a serious addiction, and could affect your memory.
I think that he needs to be more careful and concerned, though, especially where a youngster is concerned.

Answer 10

I have quit smoking 3 years ago.... its never affected my memory, maybe he really did forget, or maybe he dont have the money to get your son something, but what type of person are you to ask where his present for your son is? thats kinda rude and to keep asking him... if he has it he will bring it when he gets a chance or remembers it... if you are that cought up on a little birthday present i would hate to be around you at christmas time.... "the present police" chill out if you want it that bad go and get it! i just think thats so dumb!!!!!