They discover a link between the lack of gray matter and the desire to smoke in adolescents

2023-08-16 10:37:04

Updated Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – 10:37

The research has counted on the analysis of up to 800 young people and the participation of three international universities.

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A study published in the journal “Nature Communications” reveals that a reduced level of gray matter in two areas of the brain may be related to the desire to start smoking during adolescence and the strengthening of nicotine addiction.

A group of scientists from the Cambridge and Warwick universitiesin the UK, and the Fudan Universityin China, analyzed brain imaging and behavioral data from more than 800 young people at the ages of 14, 19 and 23 years.

The study found that, on average, teens who started smoking at age 14 or earlier tenan significantly less gray matter in a section of the left frontal lobe associated with decision making and rule breaking.

Gray matter is the brain tissue that processes information and contains all neurons of the organ. Although brain development continues into adulthood, gray matter growth peaks before adolescence.

The researchers suggest that the reduced volume of gray matter on the left side of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex could be a “heritable biomarker” for nicotine addictionsomething that has implications for prevention and treatment.

In addition, the scientists discovered that the opposite part, the right side of the same brain region, also had less gray matter in smokers.

The loss of matter in the right prefrontal cortex, a region associated with sensation seeking, appears to be accelerating only after starting to smoke.

The study authors argue that the decrease in gray matter in the brain could reduce cognitive function y encourage “disinhibition”“impulsive and transgressive” behavior that arises from a limited ability to consider consequences, which can increase the chances to start smoking at an early age.