Smoking, which is known to be a major cause of cardiovascular disease and an assortment of other health issues, has also been linked to poor brain health. A study organized by Age UK, the country’s largest charity dedicated to researching and promoting healthy aging, linked smoking with changes in the cerebral cortex, an area responsible for high-level functioning as well as memory, attention, language and awareness.

Participants in the study included over 500 men and women at an average age of 73 years old. Half of the participants were current or former smokers, while the other half had never smoked. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans, which were then analyzed by the research team.

The team found that smoking increased the rate at which the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, thins with age. They observed that smoking-related brain thinning occurred at double the rate observed in previous smaller studies. Non-smokers exhibited normal rates of thinning associated with aging. Ian Deary, lead scientist of the study, said, “Our study also suggests that stopping smoking might allow the brain’s cortex to recover some of its thickness, though we need to conduct further studies to test this.”

The cerebral cortex plays an important role in memory, attention, perception, awareness, language and consciousness. It has been proven to affect tasks including planning, decision-making and problem-solving.

Professor James Goodwin, Head of Research at Age UK, said, “We all know smoking is bad for our lungs and heart, but it’s important we also understand how bad it is for our brain.”

Although avoiding smoking is the best choice for optimal brain health, the research team is hoping to investigate individuals who quit smoking versus those that do not to prove that stopping smoking at any point in life can be beneficial to the brain.

Along with the recommendation to quit smoking, the Cognitive Therapeutics Method™ advises various improvements in lifestyle choices, including regular exercising, eating a Mediterranean diet, engaging in cognitive stimulation activities, maintaining social ties, and participating in social as well as recreational activities.

For more information on healthy living and the latest scientific research around brain health, visit our blog at www.CognitiveTherapeutics.com/Newsroom/Blog.

Sources

http://www.webmd.boots.com/smoking-cessation/news/20151119/smoking-ages-the-brain-faster

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/18/how-smoking-ages-the-brain_n_8589470.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_cortex