Health
Smoking shrinks the brain and drives up Alzheimer’s risk, new study finds
Smoking is notorious for causing damage to the lungs — but a recent study confirmed that it’s also harmful to the brain.
Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine (WashUMed) in St. Louis, Missouri, analyzed the brain scans, smoking history and genetic risk of 32,094 participants of European descent from the UK Biobank database.
Those who smoked one pack daily were found to have decreased brain volume compared to those who never smoked or had smoked fewer than 100 total cigarettes.
AI MODEL COULD HELP PREDICT LUNG CANCER RISKS IN NON-SMOKERS, STUDY FINDS: ‘SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT’
With each additional year of smoking, the shrinkage was greater.
The study, published in the January 2024 issue of Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, helps to explain why older people who smoke are at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, according to the researchers.
Smoking is notorious for causing damage to the lungs, but recent research confirmed that it is also harmful to the brain. (iStock)
“People who smoke are more likely to have deterioration in gray and white matter, which provides a possible explanation as to why 14% of global Alzheimer’s disease cases could be attributable to cigarette smoking,” they wrote in the study findings.
FIRST NEW ‘QUIT-SMOKING’ DRUG IN 20 YEARS SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS IN US TRIAL: ‘HOPE AND EXCITEMENT’
“Up until recently, scientists overlooked the effects of smoking on the brain, in part because we were focused on all the terrible effects of smoking on the lungs and the heart,” said senior author Laura J. Bierut, M.D., the Alumni Endowed Professor of Psychiatry, in a press release from WashUMed.
“But as we’ve started looking at the brain more closely, it’s become apparent that smoking is also really bad for your brain.”
Those who smoked one pack daily were found to have decreased brain volume compared to those who never smoked or had smoked fewer than 100 total cigarettes. (iStock)
It has long been known that aging is linked to a gradual reduction in brain volume, and this study shows that smoking speeds up that process, the researchers noted.
“This is important as our population gets older, because aging and smoking are both risk factors for dementia,” noted Bierut.
“There’s one thing you can change to stop aging your brain and putting yourself at increased risk of dementia, and that’s to quit smoking.”
One positive finding was that kicking the habit can prevent the loss of additional brain tissue — but the shrinkage can’t be reversed.
“You can’t undo the damage that has already been done, but you can avoid causing further damage,” said first author Yoonhoo Chang, a graduate student at WashUMed.
SHOULD YOU BE SCREENED FOR LUNG CANCER BASED ON NEW GUIDELINES FOR HIGH-RISK PATIENTS?
“Smoking is a modifiable risk factor. There’s one thing you can change to stop aging your brain and putting yourself at increased risk of dementia, and that’s to quit smoking.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for additional comment.
Impact of toxins on aging
Dr. Brett Osborn, neurosurgery section chief at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, was not involved in the WashUMed study but shared his reaction to the findings.
While aging — and some age-related diseases — can’t be prevented, Osborn noted that our lifestyle choices can accelerate or decelerate the process.
Dr. Brett Osborn, neurosurgery section chief at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, shared his reaction to the study findings. (Dr. Brett Osborn)
“We can age gracefully in part by choosing to avoid toxins such as alcohol and smoking, both of which increase the production of toxic free radicals, also known as oxidative stress,” he told Fox News Digital.
When someone smokes, the doctor explained, the person’s blood vessel linings are “bombarded” by free radicals, which are electrons that cause cell damage. That impacts not only the heart and lungs, but also the brain.
“When you smoke, the brain takes a hit due to the induced vascular damage,” Osborn said. “Over time, the brain shrinks, and this is evident on MRI.”
BE WELL: QUIT SMOKING (OR ENCOURAGE SOMEONE ELSE TO KICK THE HABIT)
The new study confirms not only the correlation between reduced global brain volume, but also causation, said Osborn.
“It is not that those with reduced global brain volume tend to smoke from a genetic standpoint, but it is that those who smoke cause their brains to atrophy,” he said.
“Smoking does terrible things not only to the body but also to the brain, and in some parts, disproportionately more than others.”
“Smoking does terrible things not only to the body but also to the brain, and in some parts, disproportionately more than others,” a neurologist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
The regions most affected by smoking are the frontal cortex (involved in executive function, memory input and mood), cerebellum (coordination), corpus callosum (information bridge between the two hemispheres), and amygdala (emotional response and memory), Osborn pointed out.
“It is also well-established that hippocampal volume, or the volume of our primary center, is reduced in daily smokers,” he said. “It should be no surprise, therefore, that there is an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in smokers.”
“Smoking does terrible things not only to the body but also to the brain.”
While other organs, such as the lungs, can recover after a person quits smoking, there are no subsequent increases in brain volume, said Osborn.
“The brain demonstrates a lower capacity for recovery, so the best you can hope for is a deceleration in induced damage when you stop,” he said. “So, the sooner you quit, the better.”
The study helps to explain why older people who smoke are at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, according to the researchers. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo)
“Remember, staying healthy lifelong is about making the right choices to mitigate the cellular damage that is the hallmark of the disease we call aging, to which no one is immune,” Osborn added.
“Do everything in your power to slow it down, rather than accelerating the process by smoking.”
One out of every five U.S. deaths can be attributed to smoking, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Tips for kicking the habit
Dr. David Seitz, a New York-based physician with a specialty in addiction medicine, previously shared with Fox News Digital some tips for kicking the habit.
The first step is to remove all traces of cigarettes and other forms of smoking.
It’s also important to have a strong support system in place, the doctor said.
Some people find that it’s easier to gradually wean themselves off smoking instead of quitting cold turkey. (iStock)
He also suggested seeking out healthier activities to fill the gap, such as walking or jogging, listening to a relaxing playlist, meditating or going to a yoga class.
Some people find that it’s easier to gradually wean themselves off smoking instead of quitting cold turkey.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“This could involve gradually reducing the number of cigarettes smoked each day until eventually giving up completely, cutting back to a certain number of cigarettes per week or focusing on specific dates when you need to be completely smoke-free,” Seitz said.
For those who are unable to stop smoking on their own, Seitz recommended seeing a doctor for assistance.
“Your doctor can provide helpful information about how to quit smoking, prescribe medications that may help, and also monitor your progress along the way.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
US issues new guidance on alcohol consumption
Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier joins ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to weigh in on new dietary guidance surrounding alcohol consumption as the overall drinking rate hits a new low.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The new federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest simply limiting alcohol intake for better health.
The shifted guidance challenges previous standards that listed moderate drinking limits — one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
A standard drink is about 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor, according to experts.
HIGHER STROKE RISK LINKED TO CONSUMING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL, STUDY FINDS
Heavy drinking is defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more drinks per day for men, per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Drinking this amount of alcohol within two hours is typically considered binge-drinking, which causes more than half of alcohol-related deaths in the U.S.
Many patients may believe their heavy drinking is not a concern because they can “hold their liquor” — but having a high alcohol tolerance is a reason to worry, experts say. (iStock)
“It increases the risk of falls, burns, car crashes, memory blackouts, medication interactions, assaults, drownings and overdose deaths,” the group cautions on its website.
Many patients may believe their heavy drinking is not a concern because they can “hold their liquor,” but having a high alcohol tolerance is actually more of a reason to worry, the NIAAA mentioned.
Heavy drinking is defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more drinks per day for men.
“People with this trait tend to drink more and thus have an increased risk of alcohol-related problems,” the Institute stated.
“Patients who drink within the limits of the Dietary Guidelines, too, may be unaware that even if they don’t feel a ‘buzz,’ driving can be impaired.”
‘The less you drink, the better’
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel said he agrees with the shifting guidelines because any set standard sends an “unintentional message that some amount of alcohol is safe.”
LITTLE-KNOWN PRESCRIPTION PILL IS HELPING AMERICANS DRINK LESS ALCOHOL
“Setting an arbitrary number doesn’t mean much, especially since people tend not to follow it anyway,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Not only that, but since alcohol is addictive, what starts out as one drink quickly becomes two … it is a social lubricant and there is a positive side, but it is also a toxin.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Siegel suggested that there should be further guidelines surrounding the risks alcohol poses for the liver and heart, in addition to the dangers of drinking while driving.
“The less you drink, the better,” he said. “Alcohol impairs judgment, may easily be mixed with other harmful drugs like cannabis, [and can] lead to severe and fatal car accidents.”
“Setting an arbitrary number doesn’t mean much, especially since people tend not to follow it anyway,” said a leading physician and medical analyst. (iStock)
Isaac Dapkins, M.D., chief medical officer and designated institutional official for the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone, noted the importance of limiting alcohol.
“No one should start drinking — or keep drinking — because they think it’s good for them.”
While men and women differ depending on age, body size and other environmental factors, women’s bodies can metabolize less alcohol than men, the doctor told Fox News Digital.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Mark Hyman, co-founder of Function Health in California, highlighted how women are at an increased risk of developing certain cancers due to hormonal shifts.
Meanwhile, men may be more likely to binge-drink, the doctor noted, as just one heavy drinking episode could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Individuals should speak with a doctor about their personal drinking risk based on family history, a doctor suggests. (iStock)
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Consensus Report, which accompanied the new Dietary Guidelines, says that men and women who drink in moderation may have a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of all-cause mortality.
Hyman, however, disagrees with this. “There are no cardiovascular health benefits to drinking alcohol,” he said. “These assertions were based primarily on observational research, with a lot of confounding factors.”
The doctor added, “Less [alcohol] is better, and abstinence is best. No one should start drinking — or keep drinking — because they think it’s good for them.”
Know your risk
Dapkins recommends that individuals see their primary care doctor to discuss their personal risk.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“There is no longer a ‘one size fits all’ status for most conditions,” he said. “There is so much new information discovered about how to characterize an individual’s risk based on family history, behaviors and current medical conditions.”
For anyone who has a personal history of tobacco use — or a family history of breast cancer, atrial fibrillation or substance abuse — Dapkins’ advice is to avoid alcohol.
“It is a social lubricant and there is a positive side, but it is also a toxin,” one doctor cautioned. (iStock)
“There is a significant association between alcohol intake and atrial fibrillation (or A. Fib.), high blood pressure, and breast, mouth and throat cancers,” he cautioned. “A. Fib. can cause a stroke and is directly associated with alcohol intake.”
For those with no personal or family history, the concern would be less, according to Dapkins. “If you choose to drink moderately, your doctor may be able to detect health conditions early to reduce your risk,” he went on. “The best option is to have a trusted clinician with whom you maintain a long relationship.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Amanda Berger, Ph.D., senior vice president for science and research at the Distilled Spirits Council in Washington, D.C., noted that for most adults, research shows “moderate alcohol consumption can be part of an enjoyable adult lifestyle and carries little to no risk.”
“However, there are some individuals who should avoid alcohol all together,” she said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We recommend that people talk to their health providers to help determine what is right for them, based on personal risk factors.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Adults who consider themselves “night owls” tend to score lower in cardiovascular health assessments and face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
That’s according to a new study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, which examined how a person’s chronotype — their natural tendency to be active in the morning or evening — is linked to overall heart health.
The researchers looked at 14 years of UK Biobank data for around 300,000 adults averaging 57 years old, according to a press release for the study.
EASY NUTRITION TWEAK COULD TRANSFORM YOUR SLEEP — STARTING THIS EVENING
Around 8% of the participants described themselves as “definitely evening people,” which means they stayed up very late. Another 24% said they were “definitely morning people,” as they tended to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier.
The largest “intermediate” group, which included 67% of participants, said they were unsure or in neither group.
Adults who consider themselves “night owls” tend to score lower in cardiovascular health assessments and face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. (iStock)
Each person’s heart health was determined using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 score.
“Life’s Essential 8 is a comprehensive assessment that includes activity levels, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol, use of nicotine, sleep patterns, weight management and blood sugar,” shared Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company.
MEN WITH ‘BEER BELLIES’ MAY FACE SERIOUS HEART DAMAGE REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT
The researchers also looked at incidence of heart attack or stroke over the follow-up period.
They determined that people who were more active in the evening (“night owls”) had a 79% higher risk of poor cardiovascular health compared to the intermediate group, and a 16% higher risk of heart attack or stroke, the release stated.
The researchers looked at 14 years of UK Biobank data for around 300,000 adults averaging 57 years old. (iStock)
People who identified as being more active in the morning had slightly better heart health scores. The link was more pronounced in women than men.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“‘Evening people’ often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal body clock may not match the natural day-to-night light cycle or their typical daily schedules,” said lead study author Sina Kianersi, Ph.D., a research fellow in the division of sleep and circadian disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, in the release.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Evening people may be more likely to have behaviors that can affect cardiovascular health, such as poorer diet quality, smoking, and inadequate or irregular sleep.”
Each person’s heart health was determined using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 score. (American Heart Association)
Serwer, who was not involved in the study, noted that lifestyle habits played a significant role in these findings.
“Cardiovascular disease has multiple contributing causes,” the Maryland-based cardiologist told Fox News Digital. “Sleep is just one variable — and the importance of high-quality, restorative sleep should not be undervalued.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The findings could help doctors tailor lifestyle and medical interventions to help prevent cardiovascular events, the researchers noted.
The findings could help doctors tailor lifestyle and medical interventions to help prevent cardiovascular events, the researchers noted. (iStock)
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that it does not prove that staying up late causes heart problems, but only establishes an association.
Also, the study relied on people reporting their own schedules, habits and health, which could be skewed.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Finally, the people included in the UK Biobank are primarily White and tend to have better health than the general population, the researchers noted, which means the results may not be widely generalized.
Serwer added, “While quality sleep is important, further studies are required to show exactly what sort of impact sleep alone has on cardiovascular health.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
One woman’s uncomfortable reaction to alcohol led to a grave discovery.
Hollie Thursby, 28, a mother of two from the U.K., told Kennedy News and Media that after giving birth to her second son, Jack, she began experiencing unusual symptoms.
At a checkup for her son, who was a couple of months old, Thursby mentioned that she was experiencing “unbearably itchy skin,” which is known to be a post-partum symptom. The doctor suggested it was due to changing hormones.
DEADLY CANCER RISK SPIKES WITH CERTAIN LEVEL OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, STUDY FINDS
Thursby added that she occasionally drank a couple glasses of wine. Although she kept the drinking to a minimum, she described having “a lot of pain” down the side of her neck.
“Really quite painful and uncomfortable,” she said, according to the report.
A U.K. mom reported experiencing pain in her neck after drinking a glass or two of wine, which turned out to be one of the first signs that she had cancer. (Kennedy News and Media)
The mother also reported feeling extremely exhausted, which she assumed was due to caring for her children throughout the day.
“I also felt like when I got to bed that someone was sitting on my chest,” she shared.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
In July 2025, Thursby discovered a lump on the side of her neck that she described as “really quite big,” but wasn’t painful, Kennedy News and Media reported.
“It was hard, it didn’t move, but it was there,” she said. “When I turned my neck to the side, you could see it.”
Thursby reportedly began chemotherapy for Stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma. (Kennedy News and Media)
Thursby’s symptoms turned out to be a form of blood cancer — Stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma, which means it is in two or more lymph nodes, according to Cancer Research U.K.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Common symptoms include swelling of the lymph nodes, heavy sweating, weight loss, itching, persistent cough or shortness of breath, high temperatures, and pain in the stomach or lymph nodes after drinking alcohol.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Pain when you drink alcohol is actually a known side effect of Hodgkin lymphoma,” she said, per the report. “It’s something about the acidity in the wine and not when you drink other alcohol.”
While alcohol-related pain in Hodgkins lymphoma patients has been “an accepted scientific consensus” since the 1950s, cases are rare, Healthline confirmed.
Hollie Thursby, 28, and her two sons are pictured above. The mother reported feeling extremely exhausted, which she assumed was due to caring for her children throughout the day. (Kennedy News and Media)
Thursby reportedly began chemotherapy in November, noting that the hardest part is not being able to care for her kids after losing her own mother to a blood disorder called myelodysplasia.
“I grew up without a mum, and it was horrendous. I can’t do that to the boys,” she told Kennedy News and Media. “We’re all devastated, but we all know now, and we’ve got a treatment plan, which is what we need.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“I’m just doing everything I can to get better for them. I keep telling myself this is only temporary, I just need to keep going.”
Anyone experiencing pain or other concerning symptoms after consuming alcohol should consult a doctor for guidance.
How Wisconsin Badgers pulled off historic comeback win over Minnesota
Schools closures in West Virginia continue into Thursday, Jan. 29
January Grind: Week 7 Tips Off the Stretch Run in Wyoming Girls’ Hoops
Arthur Hayes Outlines Conditional Bitcoin Bull Case Tied to Fed Balance Sheet
Austin council member Paige Ellis may have violated campaign finance rules again
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Trump admin finds California ban on notifying parents of gender transitions violated federal law
Syria grants immediate citizenship to Kurds in wake of gains against SDF
US life expectancy reached a record high in 2024 as deaths from drug overdose and Covid-19 dropped | CNN
Video: Their Mother Was Detained. Now a Minneapolis Family Lives in Fear.
Trump return to Iowa likely ahead of high-stakes midterms, GOP gubernatorial candidate says
-
Illinois7 days agoIllinois school closings tomorrow: How to check if your school is closed due to extreme cold
-
Pittsburg, PA1 week agoSean McDermott Should Be Steelers Next Head Coach
-
Pennsylvania3 days agoRare ‘avalanche’ blocks Pennsylvania road during major snowstorm
-
Sports1 week agoMiami star throws punch at Indiana player after national championship loss
-
Technology7 days agoRing claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras
-
Science1 week agoContributor: New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Movie Review: In ‘Mercy,’ Chris Pratt is on trial with an artificial intelligence judge
-
Politics4 days agoTrump’s playbook falters in crisis response to Minneapolis shooting
