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Tobacco use causes thinning in the brain's cortex, the region responsible for cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, speech, and decision-making, according to a neurologist at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital
Assoc. Dr. Gorkem Tutal Gursoy told the Anadolu Agency (AA) that tobacco affects not only the lungs but also brain health, with recent studies showing that it causes cortical thinning and damages brain vessels.
"Thinning in the brain cortex leads to disorders causing forgetfulness, learning difficulties, attention deficit and personality changes. In some patients, depression-like symptoms may also appear," Gursoy said.
The neurologist noted that the duration and amount of tobacco use directly influence the degree of cortical thinning. Toxins in cigarettes affect neurons, which are the cells responsible for brain function.
Toxic damage to neurons leads to cell death, which can trigger conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Damage to brain vessel health can also result in neurological conditions such as stroke, Gursoy added.
The findings align with broader global data.
According to a 2025 study published in Tobacco-Induced Diseases, smoking ranks as the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of neurological disorders, and tobacco use raises the risk of multiple neurological diseases by more than 10%.
The study also found that the global burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias linked to tobacco increased between 1990 and 2021.
The neurological risks are particularly relevant for Türkiye, where tobacco consumption remains among the highest in the developed world.
Türkiye ranks third among OECD countries in daily smoking rates, with around 28% of adults reporting daily tobacco use as of 2022, according to a review published in Tobacco Prevention & Cessation.
Tobacco-attributable disability-adjusted life years per 100,000 population in the country rose from 3,283 in 2002 to 3,407 in 2019, according to data from the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Gursoy stated that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products also harm brain cells and cause brain damage due to their nicotine content.
Starting tobacco use at a young age increases the risks further, the neurologist said. "The longer the duration of tobacco use, the greater the damage to the brain. The more that is consumed, the faster cell death occurs. Starting the habit at an early age can increase the risk of dementia and stroke, and may also lead to attention and learning disorders. Behavioral changes can be observed in long-term tobacco users," Gursoy said.
Gursoy noted that the brain's recovery process after quitting tobacco is lengthy. "After quitting, it may take approximately 25 years for brain cells to recover. Passive smoking also affects brain health. Chemical substances and heavy metals present in smoke are among the factors that impact a person's brain health," the neurologist said.
Gursoy emphasized that tobacco and tobacco products should be avoided to protect brain health and that protecting children and young people from these products is of particular importance.
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