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Christmas break
This will be our final ASH daily news of 2023, we will return on the 3rd of January. On behalf of all the ASH team, we’d like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
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Smoking causes brain shrinkage, but quitting may prevent further loss
Cigarette smoking causes the brain to shrink, according to a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO (WashUMed).
Brain shrinkage is also associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The study’s results show that quitting smoking at any time stopped further gray matter loss. However, the brain does not recover its original mass once shrinkage occurs.
It has long been known that smoking is harmful to the lungs and heart, though not as much research has been dedicated to its effect on the brain.
The research team, led by senior author Dr. Laura J. Bierut, director of WashUMed’s Health & Behavior Research Center, aimed to fill a gap in the current understanding of the harmful effects of smoking.
Previous research has indicated that smokers are more likely to develop dementia. It’s estimated that 14% of Alzheimer’s cases may be attributed to smoking.
Researchers calculated the number of smoking years for individuals who reported smoking one pack or 20 cigarettes daily. Their brain scans were compared to people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes.
Those who smoked more experienced a greater level of brain shrinkage.
“Quitting smoking is one of the most important things that you can do for your health,” Dr. Bierut said.
“The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more you age your brain. The other thing I always say to people who are older and who smoke — it is never too late to quit. There are health benefits of quitting even later in life.”
Source: Medical News Today, 18 December 2023
See also: Biological Psychiatry - Investigating the Relationship Between Smoking Behavior and Global Brain Volume | ASH – Smoking and dementia
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Tobacco Slave documentary
This documentary, made by the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, explores the experience of tobacco growers in Malawi. Tobacco growers can find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty because of the contract system favoured by the tobacco industry. Historians also examine the colonial legacy of tobacco farming which can still be felt in the industry today.
Source: STOP
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Is vaping harmful to oral health?
Dr Richard Holliday, a Senior Lecturer/ Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry and Specialist in Periodontics at Newcastle University, has prepared a brief on the effect of vaping on oral health. Dr Holliday brings together the available evidence and concludes that e-cigarette use is far less harmful than tobacco smoking for your oral health, although it is not risk free. As such, he endorses the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Witty’s sentiment that “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape".
Source: British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, 7 December 2023
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Stop blaming the industry and follow the science: it’s time we learnt to bazooka responsibly
Nason Maani, a Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health at the University of Edinburgh, has written a satirical piece on how harm-causing industries seek to reframe the narrative to present themselves as partners in mitigating the harm caused by their products. The industry in question is the bazooka industry.
“For many years, the industry has been funding BazookAware, an independent charity that seeks to promote responsible bazookaing, through expertly designed campaigns like ‘when the FUN stops, stop firing’ or ‘How to Bazooka Properly’.”
Source: Health Promotion International, 21 December 2023
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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