According to a new study, smoking can actually make the brain smaller.
While quitting this habit can prevent even more brain tissue loss, it cannot restore the brain to its original size.
Let's find out about the negative effects of this bad habit.
A new experiment
Smoking speeds up brain aging because the brain naturally shrinks as we get older.
This helps explain why many smokers have a higher chance of experiencing memory problems and Alzheimer's disease as they age.
Specialists have known that the habit and smaller brain size are related, but they weren't sure which one caused the other.
Genetics also play a role, as brain size and smoking habits can be inherited.
By studying some information from over 40,000 people, the scientists discovered that smoking history, genetic risk for smoking, and also brain volume were all connected.
The more packs someone smoked each day, the smaller their brain size becomes.
When combining all three factors together, the connection between genetic risk for smoking and brain size disappeared, but the link between smoking habits and brain size remained.
Why it's important to know
Regrettably, smoking-induced brain shrinkage seems to be permanent and cannot be reversed.
Even people who quit smoking long ago still had smaller brains compared to those who never smoked.
Quitting smoking is the most effective way to prevent additional harm to the brain and lower the risk of developing dementia.
Previously, we talked about deep sleep.
