Reduced grey matter in brain linked to teen smoking, nicotine addiction: Study

Levels of grey matter in two parts of the brain may be linked to a desire to start smoking during adolescence and the strengthening of nicotine addiction a new study has revealedA team of scientists led by the universities of Cambridge and Warwick in the UK and Fudan University in China analysed brain imaging and behavioural data of over 800 young people at the ages of 14 19 and 23They found that on average teenagers who started smoking by 14 years of age had markedly less grey matter in a section of the left frontal lobe linked to decisionmaking and rulebreakingLow grey matter volume in the left side of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex may be an ldquoinheritable biomarkerrdquo for nicotine addictionIn addition the scientists found that the opposite right part of the same brain region also had less grey matter in smokersImportantly loss of grey matter in the right prefrontal cortex appears to speed up only after someone has started smoking This region is linked to the seeking of sensations according to the study that appeared in Nature CommunicationsThe team argued that less grey matter in the left forebrain could lower cognitive function and lead to ldquodisinhibitionrdquo impulsive rulebreaking behaviour arising from a limited ability to consider consequences This may increase the chances of smoking at a young ageldquoThe initiation of a smoking habit is most likely to occur during adolescence Any way of detecting an increased chance of this so we can target interventions could help save millions of livesrdquo said Professor Trevor Robbins cosenior author from Cambridgersquos Department of PsychologyAnnual deaths from cigarettes are expected to reach eight million worldwide by the end of the decadeldquoIn our study reduced grey matter in the left prefrontal cortex is associated with increased rulebreaking behaviour as well as early smoking experiences It could be that this rulebreaking leads to the violation of antismoking normsrdquo said RobbinsProfofessor Barbara Sahakian from Cambridgersquos Department of Psychiatry said ldquoThe ventromedial prefrontal cortex is a key region for dopamine the brainrsquos pleasure chemical As well as a role in rewarding experiences dopamine has long been believed to affect selfcontrolldquoLess grey matter across this brain region may limit cognitive function leading to lower selfcontrol and a propensity for risky behaviour such as smokingrdquoThe scientists also looked at the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex Grey matter loss occurs in everyone as they ageHowever those who smoked from age 14 as well as those smoking from age 19 both ended up with excessive grey matter loss in the right frontal lobeData at age 23 showed that grey matter volume in the right prefrontal cortex shrank at a faster pace in those who continued to smoke suggesting an influence of smoking itself on prefrontal function the findings showedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever