Nicotine consumption among young people is linked to a change in blood circulation in the brain.
- For years, public health experts have been concerned about the high consumption of nicotine among young French people.
- A new study indicates that nicotine consumption changes the blood flow in the brains of young people who consume it.
- Specifically, regular nicotine users experience decreased blood flow in the left and right precuneus, left posterior cingulate cortex, and right anterior cingulate cortex.
A recent study published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior reveals that nicotine consumption among young people is associated with changes in cerebral blood flow.
For years, public health experts have been concerned about the high consumption of nicotine among young French people. Despite numerous efforts to curb this trend, the popularity of these practices persists.
Previous research has already highlighted the potential health risks associated with nicotine use, particularly its impact on the developing brain. Based on this knowledge, researchers decided to explore how nicotine consumption can affect brain health, this time focusing specifically on blood circulation.
Nicotine: a reduction in blood flow in the brains of young consumers
To do this, the researchers recruited 194 participants aged 16 to 22 and divided the groups based on their use of nicotine products (frequent or occasional). Participants then took magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to measure blood flow in their brains.
Bottom line: The study found a significant decrease in blood flow in specific areas of the brain in frequent nicotine users compared to non-users. These areas include the left and right precuneus, left posterior cingulate cortex, and right anterior cingulate cortex, which play a crucial role in the development of nicotine addiction and in the management of cognitive functions such as attention and memory .
Additional studies are needed to better understand the causal relationships revealed by this research. Nevertheless, this essay highlights the importance of raising awareness among young people of the risks associated with nicotine consumption.
Nicotine: why measure blood flow in the brains of young consumers?
“We don’t yet fully understand how nicotine use affects the brain, particularly during late adolescence and early adulthood (ages 16 to 22), when the brain is experiencing neural development fast”said study authors Kelly Courtney and Joanna Jacobus, both associate professors of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego.
“This is also the time when many individuals begin using nicotine products for the first time. Cerebral blood flow is a particularly relevant brain health measurement tool because it provides oxygen and energy substrates throughout the brain and supports the changes that occur during normal neuronal development. they conclude.