Smoking Alters the Teen Brain

Most smokers pick up the habit as teens, and now a new study shows it may alter the still-developing part of the brain responsible for decision making, The Orange County Register reports.

University of California Los Angeles researchers studied the prefrontal cortex, which continues to mature into early adulthood, and controls functions such as planning, decision making and the ability to delay gratification.

According to the newspaper, the researchers determined that smokers had less activity in the prefrontal cortex. That was particularly true for most teens addicted to nicotine.

Read more: healthyliving.ocregister.com/2011/03/04/smoking-alters-the-teenage-brain/30059/