Smoking can cause brain atrophy

New research shows that in addition to lung damage, regular smoking can damage the brain, increasing the risk of dementia.

The study, conducted by experts from the Washington University School of Medicine (WashUMed), was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, January 2024. The work helps explain why older smokers are at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

They analyzed brain scans, smoking histories, and genetic risk of more than 32,000 volunteers. The results showed that people who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day had lower brain volumes than those who had never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes. With each year of smoking, the brain shrinkage increased.

"Smokers are more likely to have gray and white matter decline. This explains why 14% of global Alzheimer's cases can be attributed to smoking," the study said.

According to study author Professor Laura J. Bierut, scientists have previously overlooked the effects of smoking on the brain. They often focus on the habit's larger effects on the heart and lungs.

“But when we started looking more closely at the brain, it became clear that smoking is really bad for your brain,” Professor Bierut said.

Illustration of a person smoking. Photo: Freepik

Experts have long known that aging is linked to a gradual loss of brain volume, and several studies have shown that smoking accelerates that process. Professor Bierut noted that the new results are important, especially for countries with aging populations.

To stay healthy and cognitively healthy as you age, avoid exposure to toxins from alcohol or tobacco, both of which increase the production of harmful free radicals, also known as oxidative stress, says Dr. Brett Osborn, chief of neurosurgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

When a person smokes, the lining of blood vessels can be “bombarded” by free radicals, causing cell damage. This affects the heart, lungs, and even the brain.

Thuc Linh (According to NY Post, Daily Mail )

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