White matter development and tobacco smoking in young adults: A systematic review with recommendations for future research
Open accessAbstract
Background Adolescence and young adulthood are critical vulnerability periods for initiation of tobacco smoking. White matter development is ongoing during this time and may be influenced by exposure to nicotine. Synthesis of findings from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies of adolescent and young adult smokers may be helpful in understanding the relationship between neurodevelopment and initiation and progression of tobacco-use behaviors and in guiding further research.Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to identify DTI studies comparing adolescent and young adult (mean age <30 years) smokers versus nonsmokers. A total of 5 studies meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Primary study findings are reviewed and discussed within the context of neurodevelopment and in relation to findings from adult studies. Directions for further research are also discussed.Results All identified studies reported increases in fractional anisotropy (FA) among adolescent/young adult smokers in comparison to non-smokers. Increased FA was most frequently reported in regions of the corpus callosum (genu, body and spenium), internal capsule and superior longitudinal fasciculus.Conclusions Findings of increased FA among adolescent/young adult smokers are contrary to those from most adult studies and thus raise the possibility of differential effects of nicotine on white matter across the lifespan. Further research including multiple time points is needed to test this hypothesis. Other areas warranting further research include DTI studies of e-cigarette use and studies incorporating measures of pubertal stage.
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Preliminary diffusion tensor imaging data report that smoking in young adulthood elevates fractional anisotropy among smokers compared to non-smokers, suggestive of impaired white matter development.
“First, preliminary data from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies report that smoking in young adulthood elevates fractional anisotropy (FA) among smokers compared to non-smokers (34), suggestive of impaired white matter development that might increase vulnerability to severe mental disorders.”
From The detrimental effects of smoking on the course and outcome in adults with bipolar disorder—A narrative review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
The Abstract Results and Discussion §4.1 report higher fractional anisotropy (FA) in adolescent and young adult smokers than in non-smokers. But Discussion §4.3 says it remains unclear whether smoking causes the white-matter differences, and §4.1 says the meaning of increased FA needs further study. The review therefore does not establish that smoking elevates FA or that the finding indicates impaired white-matter development. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlcohol use and cigarette smoking during adolescence may procure noxious neurobiological effects.
“Two longitudinal studies indicate that alcohol use and cigarette smoking during adolescence may procure noxious neurobiological effects (33, 34).”
From The detrimental effects of smoking on the course and outcome in adults with bipolar disorder—A narrative review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
The Discussion (§4.1) reports differences in white-matter measures between adolescent or young-adult smokers and nonsmokers, supporting a possible neurobiological association with cigarette smoking. But §4.3 says the significance of those differences remains unclear and calls for longitudinal studies to determine whether smoking causes them. The paper does not establish noxious effects from adolescent smoking; its discussion of alcohol does not establish such effects from adolescent alcohol use either. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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References 73 · Cited by 56
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- USDHHS Chapter 13: patterns of tobacco use among U.S. youth, young adults, and adults. The Health Consequenses of Smoking—50 Years of of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General 2014 703 770 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health Atlanta, GA
- Authors
- Gogliettino, A. R., Potenza, M. N., & Yip, S. W.
- Affiliations
- Bates College (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yip, Sarah W.
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-05
- Volume
- 162
- Pages
- 26-33
- ISSN
- 0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4833590
- OpenAlex
- W2286656270
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 0.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P20DA027844, T32DA007238)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- white matter development, smoking, adolescent smokers, young adults, nicotine effects, fractional anisotropy, corpus callosum, internal capsule, superior longitudinal fasciculus, brain development, vaping, pubertal stage
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Nicotine, Smoking, Anisotropy, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Neuroimaging, White Matter, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
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