"Study Links Smoking to Brain Shrinkage and Elevated Alzheimer's Risk"
A study from Washington University School of Medicine found that smoking can lead to brain shrinkage and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Analyzing brain scans and smoking history of over 32,000 participants, researchers discovered that those who smoked a pack a day had reduced brain volume, with greater shrinkage correlating with each additional year of smoking. The study emphasizes that while quitting smoking can't reverse past brain damage, it can prevent further deterioration. Health experts advocate for avoiding smoking to reduce oxidative stress and vascular damage to the brain, which are linked to cognitive decline and dementia.
