Quitting can reverse effects of smoking

Scientists have discovered that smoking accelerates the thinning of the outer layer of the brain
Scientists have discovered that smoking accelerates the thinning of the outer layer of the brain
CORBIS

Giving up smoking, even in middle age, helps to reverse the harmful effects it has on the brain, according to the largest study of its kind.

Scientists have discovered that smoking accelerates the thinning of the outer layer of the brain that takes place as a normal part of ageing. This thinning can compromise important thinking skills, such as planning, decision making and problem solving.

However, after scanning the brains of hundreds of older people, scientists have found that participants who had given up smoking had a thicker cortex than those who had just quit, suggesting a degree of recovery.

The research adds more weight to existing evidence showing a strong connection between smoking, brain decline and an increased risk of dementia.

The research was