This has always been suspected but we now can know that the effect is
real. The likely chemical pathway is simple carbon monoxide
poisoning which delivers a highly mobile reagent quite able to snip
connections in the brain. All this applies equally well to marijuana
smoking. Chronic inhalation of carbon monoxide is bad news.
In fact the observed cognitive decline from marijuana may be
completely an effect driven by chronic carbon monoxide provisioning.
Thus while nicotine is profoundly addictive, it may otherwise be safe
enough on its own. The same surely holds true for marijuana without
the addiction side effect.
We of course have the same problem with alcohol which uses a
different pathway altogether.
What this comes down to is that safev application methods need to be
developed and we need to confirm the likely Carbon Monoxide
hypothesis. Again the molecule is small and has preferential access
to the body by this alone and is dangerous anyway. Breathing it as a
habit is really stupid and now that is confirmed.
So switch to nicotine patches and abuse them.
Smoking can 'rot'
your brain
London, November 26
(ANI): Smoking can be hazardous not only for the health of your body,
but of your mind too.
Smoking "rots"
the brain by damaging memory, learning and reasoning, researchers at
King's College London have warned
A study of 8,800
people over 50 showed high blood pressure and being overweight also
seemed to affect the brain, but to a lesser extent.
The researchers were
investigating links between the likelihood of a heart attack or
stroke and the state of the brain.
Data about the health
and lifestyle of a group of over-50s was collected and brain tests,
such as making participants learn new words or name as many animals
as they could in a minute, were also performed. They were all tested
again after four and then eight years.
They found that the
overall risk of a heart attack or stroke was "significantly
associated with cognitive decline" with those at the highest
risk showing the greatest decline.
It also said there was
a "consistent association" between smoking and lower scores
in the tests.
"Cognitive
decline becomes more common with ageing and for an increasing number
of people interferes with daily functioning and well-being," the
BBC quoted Dr Alex Dregan, one of the researchers, as saying
"We have
identified a number of risk factors which could be associated with
accelerated cognitive decline, all of which, could be modifiable."
"We need to make
people aware of the need to do some lifestyle changes because of the
risk of cognitive decline," he added.
The researchers do not
know how such a decline could affect people going about their daily
life. They are also unsure whether the early drop in brain function
could lead to conditions such as dementia.
Dr Simon Ridley, from
Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Research has repeatedly linked
smoking and high blood pressure to a greater risk of cognitive
decline and dementia, and this study adds further weight to that
evidence.
"Cognitive
decline as we age can develop into dementia, and unravelling the
factors that are linked to this decline could be crucial for finding
ways to prevent the condition. These results underline the importance
of looking after your cardiovascular health from mid-life," he
noted.
The Alzheimer's
Society said: "We all know smoking, a high blood pressure, high
cholesterol levels and a high BMI [Body Mass Index] is bad for our
heart. This research adds to the huge amount of evidence that also
suggests they can be bad for our head too.
"One in three
people over 65 will develop dementia but there are things people can
do to reduce their risk. Eating a balanced diet, maintaining a
healthy weight, exercising regularly, getting your blood pressure and
cholesterol checked and not smoking can all make a difference,"
it suggested.
The findings were
published in the journal Age and Ageing. (ANI)
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