Long-term imprisonment leads to cognitive impairment

The effects of long-term imprisonment on cognitive functions are investigated in a longitudinal study. Twenty-four serious offenders in an Austrian penitentiary underwent concentration and memory performance measurements via a questionnaire presented to them under controlled conditions in two sessions at a 42-month interval. The difference in the parameters indicated cognitive impairment after this period that was highly significant (P < 0.01); this can be interpreted as a direct consequence of imprisonment.