Smoking and the Brain

By Gregory Kellett, a cognitive neuroscience researcher at SFSU and UCSF, and science writer for Lumos Labs.

A recent research review to be published in the journal Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry shows a link between cigarette smoking and adverse changes in the function and physiology of the brain. Summarizing the findings of dozens of experiments, the review indicates that:

• Strokes are more prevalent in smokers than non-smokers.
• Gray matter (made up of brain cells) shrinks in long-term smokers.
• Smoking is associated with less integrity in the white matter connecting brain hemispheres.
• Puffing tobacco can be bad for neurotransmitters.

There are a few factors clouding the picture however. These include the fact that alcohol consumption often accompanies cigarette smoking and has also been shown to have detrimental effects on the brain.

In addition there is the question of which comes first: brain abnormalities or smoking habits. It is possible that preexisting brain abnormalities increase the likelihood of smoking and addiction.  The author suggested more research in order to answer these questions, as well as to determine if these symptoms are reversible after quitting.

References:

Domino, E. (2008). Tobacco Smoking and MRI/MRS Brain Abnormalities Compared to Nonsmokers. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, In press.