Smoking combustible cigarettes has long been associated with numerous health risks, including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues. However, recent research has shed light on another concerning consequence of daily smoking—brain shrinkage. While the best way to quit smoking is surely the use of e-cigs, today, we will explore the emerging evidence that links daily smoking to the shrinking of brain tissue, emphasizing the importance of quitting smoking for preserving brain health.
The study
Scientists have previously published evidence that found that people who smoke tend to have smaller brains compared to non-smokers. However, this new study—which was posted on April 28, 2023 on the preprint database medRxiv—reports that there is strong evidence suggesting smoking combustible cigarettes shrinks the brain.
Consisting of more than 28,000 subjects, researchers out of Penn State College of Medicine analyzed brain imaging data from the U.K. Biobank—a massive repository of genetic and health data from U.K.-based participants. In addition to brain scans, the team analyzed participants’ self-reported smoking habits, as collected in surveys. Subjects took these surveys twice, once between 2006 and 2010 and again between 2012 and 2013.
What were the results?
Scientists found that when compared to people who’d never smoked daily and those who smoked daily at some point before having their brains imaged had brain volumes that were 0.4 cubic inches smaller, on average. In fact, smoking daily at some point in the past was also linked to a 0.1 cubic inch decrease in white matter of the brain, which includes the long insulated wires that connect neurons.
Researchers also found that, among the past daily smokers, participants who smoked more heavily had larger differences in gray matter volume, supporting the idea that smoking casually reduces brain volumes.
It’s believed that further experiments are still needed to confirm the causal relationship between smoking and brain size.
What’s the best way to quit smoking?
In our opinion, the best way to quit smoking is through the help of e-cigs. Not only do these devices allow you to lower your nicotine intake over time but they also offer a way for ex-smokers to combat nicotine withdrawal and appease both physical and mental dependencies to smoking combustible cigarettes.
What did you find most interesting about the above study? Drop a comment below to share with our readers.
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