A study has discovered that cigarette smoking could lead to brain shrinkage and that prolonged smoking experiences yield greater damage.
Cigarette Smoking and Brain Shrinkage
While it has been long known that smoking harms the heart and lungs, its effect on the brain are not widely researched. In the new study "Investigating the Relationship Between Smoking Behavior and Global Brain Volume," researchers wanted to know more about this knowledge gap.
Looking into the link between cigarette smoking and brain shrinkage involves untangling genetic and behavioral factors. One's genes can affect both a desire to smoke and brain shrinkage. The study authors note that roughly half of one's smoking preference is because of genetics.
As part of the study, the researchers factored in different factors, such as genetic predisposition to smoking, brain volume, and smoking itself. They then found that genetics could lead one to smoke and that smoking is a significant driver of brain shrinkage.
The study looked into 2019 data released by the UK Biobank. It covered 32,094 individuals with European roots. Brain-imaging data was included, and participants also self-reported smoking.
The researchers then noted the number of years of smoking for those who reportedly smoked 20 cigarettes, or one pack, a day. Their brain scans were then compared to those who smoked less than 100 cigarettes or who never smoked at all. It was observed that those who smoked more had a greater brain shrinkage level.
How Smoking Can Harm the Brain
Dr. Laura J. Bierut, the senior author who led the study and who is the director of the Health & Behavior Research Center of WashUMed, explains that those who smoke apparently have an "older brain." Dr. Bierut notes that when one smokes, several toxic chemicals are being ingested into the body. Moreover, those who smoke also have chronically lower levels of oxygen in their blood. Dr. Bierut adds that the brain, which loves oxygen, gets slowly starved by the chronically lower oxygen levels.
Aside from this, Dr. Dung Trinh from the Healthy Brain Clinic explains that vascular damage could reduce the flow of blood into the brain. This could lead to atrophy and death. Dr. Trinh also cites inflammatory effects and oxidative stress linked to smoking, adding that such processes damage cells in the brain and the structures that support it.
Cigarettes also contain certain chemicals that are neurotoxic and that can damage brain cells directly. Dr. Trinh adds that smoking affects neurotransmitter levels within the brain, which could lead to neural atrophy and damage as time passes.
A Call to Quit Smoking
Dr. Bierut notes that to quit smoking is one thing that a person can do for health. With higher and longer smoking, the brain ages more. Dr. Bierut adds that health benefits can be gained even if quitting is done later in life, stressing that it is never too late to quit smoking.
On top of this, Dr. Trinh also notes that adults are not the only ones who should quit smoking, adding that when an individual begins smoking earlier, they face higher potential harm throughout their lifetime.
When it comes to ceasing smoking, internal medicine specialist Dr. Robert Miller, suggests an approach that is multi-modal. Dr. Miller also notes seven FDA-approved medications that can help with this. These medications are oral tablet medications and nicotine replacement medicines.
For those who are looking into e-cigarettes as a way to keep smoking, it is important to note that vaping is not a safer or more effective way to do so.
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