Vaping involves inhaling vapors from a heated liquid to get Nicotine and other chemicals. The FDA hasn’t approved it as a way to quit smoking, which can be dangerous for teens’ developing brains. E-cigarettes are designed to look like flash drives and are easily concealed. They are popular among adolescents who use them in school or bathroom stalls.
Brain Functions
Vaping involves inhaling the vapors of a heated liquid. The liquid is often flavored and may contain Nicotine and other chemicals. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the effects of vaping on the brain since Nicotine is addictive. It can also increase a person’s risk of addiction to other drugs and hamper the brain’s development. It can also cause lung damage, including ” popcorn lung disease.” It can also lead to other health problems like heart disease and high blood pressure. Some e-liquids can even contain carcinogens. Research suggests that e-cigarettes can adversely affect brain function, particularly in adolescents and teens whose brains are still developing. For example, they can lead to adolescent smokers and harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Researchers have also found that e-cigarette aerosol contains metals that can accumulate in the brain and affect how it manages levels of essential metals. This can impact cognitive function and may contribute to schizophrenia. Other studies have shown that THC, the active chemical in cannabis, can affect activity in brain regions involved in decision-making and memory.
Memory
While vaping spares the lungs from the dangerous chemicals in regular cigarettes, it still contains Nicotine and can have long-lasting brain effects, particularly in teenagers. In a new study, teens who vaped were three times more likely than their non-vaping peers to report problems with memory and concentration. Researchers warn that this is troubling because it could lead to trouble with learning and impulse control later in life. Research on animals shows that Nicotine affects brain development, and if it’s used during adolescence, those changes may be permanent. In the laboratory, mice were given either a high-fat diet (HFD) or nicotine-free e-vapor and then tested for short-term memory function. HFD and nicotine-free e-vapor caused brain changes that included increased systemic inflammation, increased brain p-Tau and decreased PSD-95 levels in chow-fed mice, and increased microglia and astrogliosis markers in the HFD-fed group.
Learning
While the impact of vaping on cognitive function is unclear, Nicotine can influence learning by altering presynaptic neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. These changes may impact memory and interfere with the ability to learn, recall, and understand. Teachers recognize that vaping is a big problem and worry about its effects on students’ learning ability. They also worry that vaping could serve as an introduction product for teens and preteens to combustible tobacco products, such as cigarettes. An extensive observational study suggests a possible association between e-cigarette use and subjective cognitive complaints, including brain fog.
Attention
When doctors interview patients, they typically ask three basic questions: “Do you drink any alcohol?”, “Do you smoke?” and “Do you use drugs?” The last question may seem harmless compared to the first two, but a new drug in town poses an even greater danger to teens: vaping. The e-cigarettes that kids use contain Nicotine, an addictive substance that can negatively impact their brain function and health in many ways. In particular, it affects attention. Short-term exposure to Nicotine can reduce concentration and self-control in adolescent brains, which are still developing. A recent study found that vaping is associated with mental fog, making it harder for teens to think clearly or make good decisions. Researchers believe this is caused by how Nicotine interacts with the reward system in the brain. This can increase teenagers’ vulnerability to drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine since they offer a similar pleasure-seeking kick.
Concentration
Vaping is linked to brain fog problems with memory and concentration. It’s caused by Nicotine, which can cause permanent changes to the part of your brain that controls mood, attention, and impulse control. It can also make it hard to think clearly, especially during stressful times. Research has found that even a single vaping session can alter brain activity and affect how you think. It’s similar to how THC (the chemical in marijuana) affects the brains of animals that have never experienced cannabis before. Still, it’s less clear how the effects may play out in humans. Two studies confirm that vaping can negatively affect your ability to concentrate, remember, and make decisions. The second study compared data from the 2016 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System national surveys of over 886,603 adults who reported smoking and vaping. Scientists found that current and former vapers were more likely to report cognitive complaints than ex-smokers or people who have never smoked.
Emotions
Vaping may cause long-term brain damage and addiction. It also affects mood and exacerbates depression symptoms. Social workers must educate teenagers about the dangers of vaping and encourage them to seek help if they struggle with negative emotions. Nicotine stimulates reward pathways in the brain, increasing dopamine levels and improving mood temporarily. But this effect is short-lived, and if used for prolonged periods, it can worsen your mood. This is especially true for adolescents, whose brains are still developing and who are more sensitive to rewards. In addition, vaping can cause harm to the lungs and heart. The vapor from many e-cigarettes contains chemicals, such as diacetyl, which can lead to a lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung). Other harmful effects include high blood pressure and elevated adrenaline levels. These effects can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
