Smoking at an Early Age Accelerates the Onset of Depression

SadaNews - A large-scale German study has revealed that starting to smoke cigarettes at an early age is linked to an accelerated onset of depression, confirming that early exposure to nicotine may have long-lasting effects on mental health extending into later years of life.

The researchers, led by the Central Institute of Mental Health in Germany, explained that this study is the first of its kind to confirm this link based on data from the largest population study in the country, with findings published on Thursday in the journal (BMC Public Health).

Smoking is one of the most dangerous health behaviors, with its harms not limited to the lungs and heart, but also extending to mental health. Smoking involves inhaling tobacco smoke, which contains thousands of toxic chemicals, including the addictive nicotine, and is considered one of the leading causes of early death worldwide. Additionally, smoking is associated with serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, as well as its negative impact on quality of life and physical ability.

The researchers relied on analyzing data from approximately 174,000 participants aged between 19 and 72, with women making up about half of the sample. The data was gathered through personal interviews and questionnaires covering the medical history of depression, current psychological symptoms, as well as smoking habits, such as age of onset and the number of cigarettes smoked daily.

Participants were divided into three categories: non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers, which allowed for an accurate comparison of the effects of smoking across different life stages.

The results showed that the earlier a person started smoking, the earlier they experienced depression. Statistical analysis indicated that delaying the onset of smoking by one year was associated with a delay in the first episode of depression by about 0.24 years, indicating a clear temporal relationship between early exposure to smoking and mental health.

The researchers noted that these findings support the hypothesis that nicotine may affect brain development, particularly during sensitive growth periods in adolescence and young adulthood, which are critical stages in the formation of neural circuits responsible for regulating mood and emotions.

The team emphasized that these results are particularly significant given the continued prevalence of smoking among adolescents and young adults, warning that its risks are not limited to heart and lung diseases but extend to increased likelihood of mental disorders in later stages of life.

The researchers concluded that the study delivers a clear message that every year of delay in the onset of smoking may mean additional protection for mental health, and addressing early smoking is a fundamental step in long-term depression prevention.