long term effects of tobacco on the brain

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

So we know that smoking/tobacco is bad for the lungs/heart, even in its pure form. But what of the neurological consequences? Is it neurotoxic? I read that nicotine is useful in combating Parkinson's/Alzheimer's, and that many mentally I'll people self-medicate with tobacco, pointing to perhaps a beneficial effect. Also that it may be neurotoxic to adolescents. Let's see if we can pull up some studies. Cheers!
http://medicolegal.tripod.com/preventbraindamage.htm. this isn't one study, and I haven't read the whole thing, but I think its talking about adulterated tobacco, not organic, and it references co leading to hypoxia as the mechanism.

Shit it has so many studies. But what of the philosophical geniuses of the past who smoked. I doubt their IQ could get much higher.


Then there's this in favor of organic tobacco:http://forum.grasscity.com/general/1192311-benefits-organic-tobacco.html. I hope it was OK to link that site...its not just talking about the brain though.

 

[Chauncey_GARDENer]

Wikipedia has some really great links. The general theme is that, for underaged smokers, there was a general trend of scoring lower on certain intellect tests. But for adults who smoke, the test scores were higher. As far as biological change, there is a marked increase in nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors that seems to be permanent. Wikipedia is really the place to go, I havnt read the page for a long time but I remember it had some sweet info.