2024-07-21 18:30:00
Smokers have a higher risk of developing dementia. (Symbolic image) © Juergen Theobald/Imago
Smoking can damage not only the lungs, but also the brain and increase the risk of disease. The consequences of smoking are among the most common preventable causes of death.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer or bronchial carcinoma: Smoking and tobacco smoke promote the development of serious illnesses. Smoking or burning tobacco produces tar, which contains carcinogenic substances. However, scientists have discovered that smoking does not only damage the lungs Risk of heart failure elevated. The brain also suffers from the toxic substances in cigarette smoke.
Link found between smoking and risk of dementia
A research team from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri,… Study he discovered that regular smoking leads to brain shrinkage. The gray matter in the brain, which is mainly composed of nerve cell bodies, is particularly affected.
The scientists analyzed data from half a million Brits surveyed between 2006 and 2010. Blood samples were also taken for genetic testing. 32,094 test subjects also underwent magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain volume. The researchers compared this data with information on smoking behaviour. The result was clear: daily smokers had a brain, on average, that was 3,360.95 cubic millimeters smaller – the gray matter decreased by about 2,964.18 cubic millimeters.
Why smoking reduces the brain
The more and the longer a person spent, the smaller their brain was. With each additional year of smoking, the volume seemed to keep decreasing. Previous studies have shown that certain types of genes cause certain people to start smoking. However, “smoking genes” do not directly affect brain volume;
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Millions of nerve cells in the brain would be lost from this, which… Risk of Alzheimer’s dementia increase. Brain shrinkage can be stopped as soon as you stop smoking. But the lost substance of nerve cells in the brain is irreversible, which means that the damage to the brain cannot be reversed.
This article contains only general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It does not replace a visit to the doctor in any way. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
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