Teenage smoking linked to reduced brain grey matter

A study involving researchers from the University of Cambridge, Fudan, and Warwick, published in Nature Communications, has linked teenage smoking to a reduction in grey matter in the brain.

Researchers found that adolescents who began smoking before the age of 14 showed significantly less grey matter in the left frontal lobe, an area responsible for decision-making and rule-following. Additionally, these individuals experienced a loss of grey matter in the right prefrontal cortex, a region associated with impulse control and the effects of marijuana use.

Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge noted that reduced grey matter in these regions can limit cognitive function, leading to lower self-control and an increased tendency toward risky behavior.