We all know that cigarette smoke is dangerous for our health. But what specifically happens to our #brain if we smoke?
A huge recent study of over 33,000 people published in 2023 showed that smoking was associated with less brain mass in many areas throughout the brain:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36528239
The brain tissue volumes measured correlated with the frequency and duration of smoking. Simply put, heavy smokers and lifelong smokers were more likely to have less brain mass in many brain regions.
Also, this reduction in brain tissue was unsurprisingly associated with a higher risk of dementia and poor cognitive function. Ouch.
One of my favourite areas of the brain was particularly small in some smokers. It’s called the thalamus – it’s found deep within the brain and coordinates pretty much everything inside our heads. Think of it as the central processing unit (CPU) of our brain and mind – so many pathways involve the thalamus, thus it regulates plenty of brain activities. So, it’s best to take care of it, ideally.
Now this research study did not directly prove that smoking was the cause of brain shrinkage. But this is highly likely because we know that smoking can damage many delicate cells and small blood vessels that normally keep our brains and other organs healthy. The researchers speculate that excess nicotine and other smoke toxins can directly harm groups of brain cells that carry nicotinic receptors, which commonly orchestrate brain cell signalling within many brain pathways.
“I’m a smoker! What should I do?”
The study also had some good news! It showed that stopping smoking was linked to stable brain volumes and stable dementia risk thereafter. Large areas of the brain cannot readily regenerate or renew, but the study implies it’s never too late to benefit from giving up smoking.
Of course, smoking is exceptionally addictive and I’ve seen so many patients find it understandably difficult to quit. We know that nicotine is especially influential in the brain’s motivation and reward pathways, which maintain addiction. There are many different approaches to help people stop smoking and often a combination of approaches is needed. A good starting point is here:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit
Overall, one of the biggest leaps to better brain health comes from avoiding cigarette smoke. I suspect that other pollution is worth avoiding too, where possible, to optimise our brain health long term. Clearly, our brains are surprisingly grateful for fresh, clean air.
Share your #brainhealth experience in the comments and have a healthy day!
#neuroscience #dementia
Considering her brain while smoking – AI image courtesy of Microsoft Designer.