Scientists have found that a compound in tobacco provokes white blood cells in the central nervous system to attack healthy cells, leading to severe neurological damage. New research which suggests a direct link between smoking and brain damage will be published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry.

Does smoking permanently damage your brain?

Loss of brain volume

Researchers found that smoking negatively affected the structural integrity of subcortical brain regions. They also found that smokers, compared to nonsmokers, had greater amounts of age-related brain volume loss in several areas of the brain.

Do cigarettes destroy brain cells?

BBC News | HEALTH | Smoking 'kills brain cells' Scientists said they have found the first direct biological evidence that smoking destroys brain cells and stops others being produced. Anti-smoking groups said this provided an even greater incentive to stop smoking.