About this Research Topic

Background

Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including a variety of cancers, lung disease and damage to the cardiovascular system. The World Health Organization recently calculated that there were 6 million smoking-attributable deaths per year and that this number is due to rise to about eight million per year by the end of 2030. Recent work has demonstrated that habitual smoking in adults is associated with a range of Neurocognitive deficits, including smoking-related reductions in working memory, executive function, and prospective memory. More recently, the focus on smoking-related health problems and Neurocognitive deficits has expanded to include the study of “second-hand smoking” (also known as “passive smoking” wherein a person who does not smoke him/her-self inhales tobacco smoke either via side-stream smoke or via smoke being blown directly into his/her face). Research in this area has linked exposure to second-hand smoke in those who have never smoked to a range of health problems, including lung and cardiovascular disease, as well as deficits in Neurocognitive function. In terms of Neurocognitive function, exposure to second-hand smoke has been linked with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairments and dementia in older adults, reductions in working memory, as well as deficits in executive function. A growing area of concern is what impact exposure to second-hand smoke might be having upon children, an area of particular importance given the recent estimates from the World Health Organization that approximately 40% of children across the worked are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in the home. The aim of this Frontiers Research Topic is to bring together a collection of papers that look at what impact active and passive smoking has upon health and Neurocognitive function, including both child and adult studies. Research papers on specific cohorts and review articles are equally welcome for consideration. It is anticipated that the set of publications included in this Frontiers Research Topic will bring together the leading researchers in this field and provide the reader with a current snapshot of the latest research into the health and Neurocognitive consequences of active and passive smoking. It is expected that this Frontiers Research Topic will appeal a wide audience and should provide the impetus for further work in the field.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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