DYK Smoking Causes Brain Cells to Shrink

Smoking Not Only Causes Lung Cancer and Heart Problems. Smoking Damages Your Brain

• Cigarette smoking causes brain shrinkage, and the more and longer a person smokes, the greater the damage is, according to a new study.
• Loss in brain volume raises the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Smoking cessation can help stop brain shrinkage, but it cannot be reversed.
• The study authors recommend that anyone at any age who smokes should prioritize quitting.

Cigarette smoking causes the brain to shrink, according to a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO (WashUMed).

Brain shrinkage is also associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

The study’s results show that quitting smoking at any time stopped further gray matter loss. However, the brain does not recover its original mass once shrinkage occurs.

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