Smoking kills: The brains of cigarette and marijuana smokers are shrinking, a shocking revelation in a new study.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Nowadays, drug use, such as marijuana (weed) and tobacco, has become quite common among Gen-Z and Millenials. They have been normalized in society to such an extent that they are now becoming a part of the culture. This makes it very important to understand the effect of these neuroactive drugs on our brain and the problems caused by their long-term use. Recently, research published by Addiction has revealed a shocking truth, in which serious problems like brain shrinkage have been seen due to smoking, which is a danger signal not only for today's youth but for every generation.

Patterns of marijuana and tobacco use

Cannabis consumption is increasing day by day. According to 2022 data, approximately 230 million people used it annually, representing 4.4 percent of the world's total population.
Tobacco use is even higher. According to a 2020 report, approximately 30 percent of the world's population consumes it, and it causes approximately 8 million deaths each year. Poor people are disproportionately affected by excessive consumption.

What were the revelations in the research?

This study, looking at a variety of methods (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and MR), found that research on the brain effects of marijuana and cigarettes is still limited. In many studies, the data was unbalanced, such as marijuana use, with a higher male sample size, while tobacco use had a higher female sample size. Nevertheless, the available data suggests some concerning findings:

• In some cases, marijuana was found to reduce the size of a part of the brain (amygdala), but this effect was not seen at all ages.
• Several parts of the brain, especially gray matter, were found to be smaller in tobacco users. 
• Tobacco can increase inflammation and damage, while the CBD in hemp may offer some protection.
• There is currently very little research on taking both together and no clear results have been obtained.

Research findings

This is the first study to link the effects of marijuana and tobacco use to brain size. It found that tobacco use reduced brain regions involved in memory and emotion, while the evidence for marijuana was less clear. The
results for tobacco were more reliable, but other factors may be contributing. This research suggests the need for further research on their simultaneous use and the need for awareness of their harms.

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