Well, just after I posted that smoking can help ward off Alzheimer's looks like we've now found that smoking can actually cause other neurological disorders.

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"Tobacco's effects on brain studied



Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that a chemical found in tobacco may contribute to severe neurological disorders and increase the negative effects of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines.
The study found that even low-exposure to a "heavy" metal like the toxic cadmium can cause a change in the functions of the neurons in the brain and change the behavioral response to illicit drugs.

Researchers said smokers and people who inhale secondhand smoke may be at a greater risk of developing disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.

Exposure to the chemical also can alter the brain of drug users, causing them to use more of the drug than a nonsmoker.

The study was published in the journal of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. "