Study Suggests Vapes Alter Brain Function in Youth

College students who vape have lower cognitive function scores than those who don’t, researchers reported Sunday at the American Neurological Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Researchers found that the more students vape, the lower their scores on learning, memory, problem-solving, and critical thinking tests.

Researchers found that students who vaped 10 to 20 puffs per day scored 9 percent lower than those who did not vape or smoke, while those who vaped more than 20 puffs a day scored nearly 14 percent lower, media states.

“We believe our research marks a before-and-after in the field of studying cognitive function regarding vaping,” said lead researcher Linker Vinan Paucar, a medical student at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador.

Previous studies have shown that smoking can affect brain function by shrinking the brain and lowering blood flow to brain cells, researchers said in background notes. Nicotine also causes neurotoxicity that damages brain cells.

The risk might be even more significant in people who vape, Paucar said.

“People in the study who had previously smoked cigarettes typically smoked three or four a week, but with vaping, they now smoke double, triple or more, especially if they smoke and vape,” Paucar said.