Cognitive Impairments in Substance Addiction: Narrative Review

Abstract

Cognition is an intricate mechanism governing the executive functions in the human body and undergoes a developmental process influenced by genetic, biological, and ecological factors. The addicted substance can be denoted as a trigger of deteriorated cognition, impacting memory, decision-making, attention, and reasoning. Specific examination of alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and amphetamines elucidates the unique ways each substance impairs cognitive functions, ranging from memory deficits to impaired attention and psychomotor skills. Hence the relevant information was gathered by referring to Google Scholar, PubMed, and Elsevier databases. To extract the updated information selected journals were filtered up to the previous ten years. Dopaminergic dysregulation arises as a central theme, influencing reward schemes, motivational drives, and memory pathways, disseminating compulsive behaviors, and obstructing substance cessation. This inclusive exploration highlights the urgency of addressing these complications for informed prevention strategies, effective public health initiatives, and targeted interventions. By elucidating the cognitive impairment in substance addiction, this review strives to emphasize the danger of substance usage.