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Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank
Gray JC, Thompson M, Bachman C, Owens MM, Murphy M, Palmer R.. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2020-02-07
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk for myriad health consequences including cognitive decline and dementia, but research on the link between smoking and brain structure is nascent. In the current study, we assessed the relationship of cigarette smoking with gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in the UK Biobank, controlling for numerous confounding demographic and health variables. We used negative-binomial regression to model the association of cigarette smoking (having ever smoked regularly, cigarettes per day, and duration smoked) with GM and WM (GM N = 19,615; WM N = 17,760), adjusting for confounders.
Key findings
- In the current study, we assessed the relationship of cigarette smoking with gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in the UK Biobank, controlling for numerous confounding demographic and health variables.
- We used negative-binomial regression to model the association of cigarette smoking (having ever smoked regularly, cigarettes per day, and duration smoked) with GM and WM (GM N = 19,615; WM N = 17,760), adjusting for confounders.
- Ever smoked and duration were associated with smaller total GM volume.
- Ever smoked was associated with reduced volume of the right VIIIa cerebellum and elevated WM hyperintensity volume.
Why it matters
In UK Biobank participants, this study assessed the relationship of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter volumes in the brain, controlling for many demographic and health variables. Ever smoking and longer duration were associated with smaller total gray matter, suggesting smoking may affect brain structure.
Study details
- Participants19,615
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neuropsychopharmacology: journal h-index 306 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 19,615 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 68 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.5 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 33 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Rohan H. C. Palmer: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Emory University: institution h-index 1,360 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32032968) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0630-2
- PubMed: 32032968
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neuropsychopharmacology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Gray, J. C., Thompson, M., Bachman, C., Owens, M. M., Murphy, M., & Palmer, R. (2020). Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0630-2
Vancouver
Gray JC, Thompson M, Bachman C, Owens MM, Murphy M, Palmer R. Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020. doi:10.1038/s41386-020-0630-2. PMID: 32032968.
BibTeX
@article{gray2020-32032968,
author = {Gray, J. C. and Thompson, M. and Bachman, C. and Owens, M. M. and Murphy, M. and Palmer, R.},
title = {{Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank}},
journal = {Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1038/s41386-020-0630-2},
pmid = {32032968},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0630-2}
}
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