Drinking alcohol doesn't seem to have a long-term effect on memory on thinking, but women who smoked may see declines, a study from the University of Iowa says.

A study of 287 people from ages 31 to 60 found that people with alcohol abuse problems did just as well on standard thinking tests as those with no past problems.

But women who had been smokers had lower scores than nonsmokers, according to a news release on the study. However, they still scored within normal ranges.

The pattern did not hold in men.

People were considered to have had a problem with alcohol if they had ever done things such as drinking and driving or missing work because of alcohol. It did not necessarily mean they were alcoholics.

But lead researcher Kristin Caspers said the bottom line is that drinkers do not appear to be doomed to a decline in brain power.

The study appears in the March issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.