50 Things That Kill Brain Cells
Created by Drew | : Boost Brain Power, Brainwaves
1) Sniffing paint — Yes, sniffing paint will give you a “high” for awhile, but it can really inflict severe brain damage. Avoid inhalants like paint and keep your brain cells healthy. Even worse than just killing your brain cells is the fact that sniffing paint has the potential to kill you — even on your first time. Stay away from this stuff and get help now if you are addicted.
2) Taking cocaine – Thank you captain obvious, right? It’s possible that not everyone out there knew that cocaine killed brain cells. Cocaine doesn’t just kill random brain cells either, it wipes out the brain cells in your brain’s pleasure center — brain cells that make you feel good and are triggered with positive emotion and pleasure. Want to keep having fun in life and feel pleasure? Stay away from cocaine.
3) Too much stress — A little bit of stress is healthy for everyone. It keeps you motivated and motivated to achieve goals. When stress gets out of hand to the point where you’re having adrenaline rushes, your body produces an excess of the chemical “cortisol.” Too much of that cortisol is what kills brain cells. Please don’t stress after reading this.
4) Getting a concussion – Unfortunately most people don’t have much control over getting concussions. The fact is, concussions are neuronal killers and should be avoided if at all possible. There are special precautions to take to avoid concussions such as: wearing a helmet in contact sports, wearing a helmet when riding your motorcycle, even wearing a helmet when riding your bike.
5) Rapidly shaking your head – Rapidly shaking your head around back and forth causes axons to tear, which causes brain cell death. A very easy way to prevent brain cell loss is by NOT shaking your head. You have complete control over the shaking of your head; don’t do it!
6) Eating junk food — What happens to your brain cells when they aren’t provided with the healthy nutrients they need to survive? They starve and die! A little bit of junk food won’t hurt, but unhealthy food on a consistent basis without any healthy food will cause brain cells to die. Again, you have complete control over what you choose to eat. Pick healthy foods and give your brains the adequate nutrients that they need to flourish.
7) Drinking too much alcohol — How many brain cells does one beer kill? Chances are good that drinking just one beer won’t kill any. Getting drunk probably won’t even kill any brain cells. Alcohol can cause a temporary chemical imbalance and structural changes. If you are an alcoholic or you frequently “drink too much alcohol,” you will most likely kill brain cells. MRI’s of alcoholic patients show a decreased brain volume.
8) Taking ecstasy (MDMA) – Common-day club drug, Ecstasy literally puts holes in your brain. Brain scans have compared healthy brains to brains of those who’ve used ecstacy and have found that the “brains on ecstasy” had holes in them. Ecstasy depletes serotonin manufacturing cells, which are important for keeping a positive mood and promoting relaxation. If you frequently go “clubbing” make the choice to stay away from “X,” as it is very common in clubs. Avoid this drug, and your brain will be much healthier than if you didn’t.
9) Dehydration – Without sufficient levels of water in the brain, ions get disrupted and the result is brain damage. Replenish your body and brain with necessary water levels to avoid dehydration and keep your brain cells healthy.
10) Using methamphetamines – Taking methamphetamines is probably the most uneducated decision you could possibly make. Not only are they one of the most addicting groups of drugs, they destroy lives and kill brain cells. The sad part is, methamphetamine use results in severe to permanent brain damage even long after the drug has been stopped. In my opinion, methamphetamines are the most dangerous group of drugs to get involved with. Stay away from them, get help now if you use them, and help a friend if you know they are a user.
11) Getting a contusion – A contusion is a severe bruise within the brain. It does cause neuronal death (brain cell death). Unfortunately, most people that have contusions couldn’t really do much to avoid them. Sports like boxing where taking jabs to the head is common, influences the development of contusions. Safety precautions: wear a helmet or hardhat when debris or other objects have potential to damage your head. The great-est Mohammed Ali suffered brain contusions from his heavy involvement in boxing.
12) Having a stroke – A stroke results from temporary loss of blood-flow to the brain. Usually, the damage from having a stroke is centralized in just one side of the brain. Strokes can cause anything from small lesions, to widespread cell death. Unfortunately strokes cannot be avoided, but there are things that you can do to reduce your risk: lowering stress levels and staying active are just a couple healthy activities that reduce risk of a stroke. An interesting fact: millions of brain cells die each minute a stroke is left untreated.
13) Avoiding exercise — The act of avoiding exercise doesn’t kill brain cells, however, the effects that are associated with lack of exercise happen to be killers. Exercise reduces stress levels, chance of brain damage, and even creates new brain cells. If you are avoiding exercise, you happen to be setting your brain cells up for an early death. Make time in your schedule to exercise and reap the benefits; exercise should never be avoided.
14) Sensory deprivation – We know from my “hearing voices” article that sensory deprivation may cause you to have auditory hallucinations. When your brain undergoes sensory deprivation for longer periods of time, you lose brain cells. When cells are not stimulated for long periods of time, your brain reorganizes itself; you naturally lose the unused, understimulated cells.
15) Taking absinthe — Most types of absinthe contain extremely high amounts of ethanol and a chemical called thujone; both of which can cause brain cell death. Thujone has the opposite effects of barbiturates like Xanax and in high doses can cause seizures and possibly death. It is definitely best to avoid absinthe and not put your brain at risk of damage.
16) Drinking too much water — The act of drinking too much water in too short of time period will actually flood your nervous system and kill off brain cells. How exactly does this work? When the ratio of water to sodium escalates, your brain swells and brain cells die in the process. Individuals on low-sodium diets may be especially vulnerable to “water toxicity.” It is important to stay hydrated, but be reasonable; you know what’s right for your body. Don’t go overboard and kill off your brain cells!
17) Being a chronic negative thinker — The act of simply thinking negative will not cause any sort of brain cell loss. Most people have negative thoughts that creep in their consciousness from time to time. It is when the negative thinking takes over, gets “out of line” and causes stress, and you to make unwise decisions such as taking drugs like Ecstacy to improve your mood at the club when you are probably losing brain cells. The side-effects and byproducts from negative thoughts are what make you more likely to engage in activities that kill brain cells. Negative thinking is an indirect killer; surround yourself with positivity and a healthy circle of friends!
18) Post traumatic stress disorder – Victims of post-traumatic stress disorder unfortunately deal with memory problems, anxiety, flashbacks, and happen to lose brain cells in the process. Post traumatic stress disorder causes the brain to produce a surplus of the stress hormone “cortisol,” which kills brain cells. Like other stress related disorders, they don’t lose a huge amount of brain cells overnight, but they definitely can lose a significant amount if they don’t get adequate assistance and treatment.
19) Head trauma – The scary thing about head trauma is that it not only kills brain cells, it also damages the brain’s ability to repair itself after the damage. Head trauma is linked to Parkinson’s disease and poor sensorimotor processing within the brain — always try to protect your head whenever engaging in a contact sport, working construction, riding a motorcycle, etc.
20) Elevated testosterone levels — Having too high of testosterone levels has been proven to be detrimental to your brain’s health and does kill brain cells. If you are taking supplements that increase testosterone levels, be aware that too much of the supplement could potentially cause the death of your brain cells!
21) Chemotherapy — Unfortunately for those who have undergone chemotherapy, the process not only kills the cancerous cells, but many of your good brain cells. In order to avoid cancer, take steps to reduce your risk of developing cancer such as: eating healthy, exercising, getting proper sleep, etc. Not everyone is able to avoid cancer, but you can certainly make an effort to try.
22) A single stressful event — Yes, you read correct — just ONE stressful event has the potential to kill off brain cells. If you live in a high-stress environment, are always on the go, and never take time to just chill, your mind is most likely overactive and you are losing brain cells. If you know that you will be exposed to stressful events, I recommend learning stress coping methods like meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, yoga, etc. There are many things you can do to lower your stress response to hectic events.
23) Smoking cigarettes — The act of smoking cigarettes is not only detrimental to your physical health — it could be taking a heavy toll on your mental health. The fact is, scientists have found that “smoking” kills brain cells and stops the production of new brain cells (neurogenesis). If you are a smoker, work hard to kick the habit. If you are smoke-free, stay that way and encourage smokers to quit.
24) Taking steroids — Taking steroids is terrible for your brain and body. Steroids elevate testosterone levels and increase stress levels: 2 activities [mentioned earlier] that are known to deplete brain cell. Steroids cause early death, an increased suicide risk, and give the user absolutely ZERO fulfillment in the long-term. Take the time to lift the necessary weights and don’t expect to get “ripped” overnight; you will be better off in the grand scheme of life.
25) Extreme anxiety and panic — Anxiety and panic in extreme situations will definitely provoke feelings of stress, release cortisol, and will kill your brain cells in severe forms. Light and moderate forms of anxiety and panic may feel uncomfortable, but will probably not damage your brain. Learning valuable coping techniques by visiting a psychotherapist, using relaxation techniques consistently, and considering medication are all things that will stop you from losing brain cells from anxiety and panic.
26) Food additives — Food additives contain a group of compounds commonly referred to as “exotoxins,” which slow and destroy cognitive development in the brain. “Exotoxins” are not just present in a few foods, they are present in virtually ALL processed foods. To avoid future health problems and keep a healthy brain, your best bet is to eat healthy, non-processed foods.
27) Oxycodone abuse — Oxycodone abuse kills brain cells, heart tissue, damages kidneys, and has terrible side-effects. If you or someone you know abuses Oxycodone, seek help immediately! Your brain and body will thank you in the long run — Oxycodone is nothing to fool around with.
28) Exposure to electricity — Short and long-term exposure to electricity has terrible effects on your brain. Electricity doesn’t just cause you to lose a few brain cells either, it causes you to lose millions! If you or anyone you know works with electricity on a consistent basis, you may want to take special precautions or reconsider!
29) Exposure to lead — It is known that the early exposure of lead may lead to later brain aging in life. What about brain cell loss from lead exposure? Scientific evidence shows that exposure to lead leads to brain cell loss and damage years later. Scientists figure that a single exposure is equivalent to at least 5 years of brain aging. Avoid lead exposure at all possible costs and do what you’ve got to do to keep your brain healthy!
30) Mercury toxicity — Chances are good that you probably know that avoiding exposure to mercury is recommended. When a person is exposed to mercury, they can develop what’s known as “mercury toxicity” in the brain. Mercury toxicity is a known brain cell killer. I find it interesting that many old, tooth-fillings could be releasing mercury into your body and you could be a victim of mercury poisoning. To watch a boring, yet informative research video about mercury poisoning, check out this video.
31) Carbon monoxide poisoning — Yes carbon monoxide itself can kill brain cells, but the reason brain cells die in carbon monoxide poisoning is mostly due to the fact that inadequate amounts of oxygen get to the brain. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, take necessary household precautions such as installing a detector and check for burning.
32) Getting Lyme disease — Severe forms of Lyme disease cause memory impairments and brain cell loss if left untreated for a long period of time. Lyme disease is usually carried by deer ticks, but can be found in other types of ticks. To avoid Lyme disease, it is recommended to always check your body after long expeditions through the woods.
33) Exposure to pesticides — It is always important to take the necessary precautions when working with pesticides or being in an area around pesticides. Pesticides kill brain cells quickly and cause abnormal mental and physical development. If you are in an environment where pesticide exposure is common, get out, save yourself, or report the company and people using the pesticides to proper authorities. Pesticides are linked to Parkinson’s disease and many other forms of mental illness!
34) Certain types of cosmetics – Certain types of cosmetics have been proven to have an adverse interaction with mental health. Some forms of shampoo have ingredients that have been shown to kill brain cells. Be aware that certain types of cosmetics have ingredients that will kill or damage your brain cells.
35) Using cleaning solvents — Taking a good whiff of a solvent can really knock you out! If “sniffed” with the purpose to get high, solvents can cause severe brain damage and possibly death. They can cause severe learning impairments, declined social functioning, and reduce the capacity of your short-term memory. Most cleaning solvents, when used properly for their intended purpose (to clean), will not cause any harm. If you know someone that is abusing solvents, get them help! You are not only helping their brain, you are helping their life!
36) Ingesting aspartame — In case you didn’t know, aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in gum, candy, and Nutra-Sweet. Several studies made connections that link aspartame to brain cell destruction. It is a very controversial substance that has been proven to be bad for health in some studies, and has been proven safe in others. Either way, I’d avoid aspartame; it’s nothing to risk your brain cells over.
37) Indoor air pollution — Indoor air pollution affects the spinal cord, kidneys, blood cells, central nervous system, and the brain. Depending on the type of indoor air pollution, effects can range from being unnoticeable to causing brain cell loss. It is important to keep the air inside of your home and business clean and safe to breathe. Don’t underestimate the potential of indoor air pollution to be detrimental to the health of your body and mind!
38) Lack of quality sleep — We all know that when we don’t get enough sleep, we cannot properly function the next day! Not only does lack of quality sleep interfere with learning and social functions (left-hemisphere), it does kill brain cells. In order to prevent brain cell loss from lack of sleep, it is recommended to get good quality sleep. Some people run effectively on just 6 hours of sleep, while some need 9 to keep a clear head. You be the judge of what works best for your body and brain!
39) Using heroin – As you probably expected, using heroin will kill your brain cells. Heroin has been linked to Alzheimer-like brain damage. Opiate use has been associated with sped up aging in the brain. Heroin causes nerve-cell damage in essential parts of the brain. Don’t let a drug like Heroin ruin your brain and your life!
40) Paint remover — When you put paint remover on paint, it eats it away. When you inhale paint remover, it eats away at your brain! Paint remover, when sniffed, crosses the blood-brain barrier and eats away at your brain tissue and cells. Make the decision to help others that have a problem with “sniffing” or “huffing” paint remover by getting them psychological assistance and being around for support.
41) Welding fumes — Exposure to welding fumes is an extreme health hazard. Welding rod fumes have been linked to Parkinson’s disease and many other illnesses. Most fumes from welding are produced during “arc-welding.” The fumes enter and damage your lungs, nervous system, and deplete brain cells. If you are a welder, you may want to check out this informational guide from the American Society of Safety Engineers.
42) Outdoor air pollution – Like indoor air pollution, outdoor air pollution can have terrible side-effects. Places like Mexico City have so much air pollution that many citizens chose to wear masks and filters to protect themselves. Depending on the type and severity of the air pollution, you can potentially lose a lot of brain tissue. Chemical gases build up quickly and mix with each other, those gases get trapped in the environment, people inhale the gases, and brain damage / cell loss is a result.
43) Microwaving “popcorn” — It doesn’t really matter what you are microwaving, if you stand close enough to the microwave or have a “microwave” leakage, you are killing your brain cells. By just standing close to a microwave that is fully sealed while operating, you do risk losing some brain cells — but not nearly as many as if there were a microwave leakage. It is important to always check up on your microwave and to repair any possible leaks. It is recommended to always stand a minimum of 2 feet away from microwaves while they are cooking.
44) Having narcolepsy – Having narcolepsy — a disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollably falling asleep at random times. Research has shown that having narcolepsy kills “hypocretin” brain cells which are located in the hippocampus. Individuals without narcolepsy have around 70,000 hypocretin brain cells, while narcoleptics have have between 3,000 to 10,000 (a significantly lower amount). Luckily new advances and treatments are constantly being developed to help with narcolepsy!
45) Formaldehyde — Formaldehyde can be found in forest fires, automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke. Formaldehyde can deplete brain cells and decreases cell counts within the brain. Formaldehyde exposure can cause burning of the eyes and nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, and could possibly cause leukemia. For great physical and mental health, formaldehyde exposure should be avoided.
46) Radiation treatment — It is not surprising that radiation treatment damages brain cells. After all, radiation treatment works to damage the DNA of cancerous cells. Some other cells happen to get hit with the radiation intended to take out the cancer cells, and healthy brain cells die. Most medically accepted treatments of cancer involve the killing of both healthy and unhealthy brain cells.
47) Taking the chemical MPTP — MPTP is a neurotoxin that causes permanent symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by killing neurons in the substantia nigra area of the brain. It’s scary that there’s an illicit drug like this… Hopefully you never even hear about MPTP other than on the internet.
48) Laughing gas a.K.a. nitrous oxide — When nitrous oxide is used in a controlled setting like the dentist’s office, it is fine and will not cause brain damage — the amount of the substance is carefully monitored. It is when nitrous oxide is illicitly used and abused that results in brain damage and cell loss. No need to freak out the next time the dentist uses this stuff. Don’t use this stuff in a non-medical setting and you’ll be fine.
49) Using ketamine – The use of ketamine, a common type of anesthesia, prevents brain cells from picking up “glutamate” — a protein which is essential for cell communication and survival. Like nitrous oxide, ketamine use should be limited to medical professionals. Using the proper amount of ketamine probably won’t do much damage.
50) Taking PCP – Most commonly referred to as “angel dust,” the drug PCP (Phencyclidine) can cause memory problems, inability to control thoughts, and compulsive action. PCP has been correlated with frontal-lobe brain damage and like most drugs, aids in the process of brain cell death. PCP is dangerous, triggers dangerous behavior, and should be avoided to keep a healthy brain.
There are more drugs and activities that weren’t mentioned that kill brain cells. I recommend checking out the article: “50 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power” to keep your brain healthy and to avoid unnecessarily killing brain cells!
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If I am prescribed oxycodone, will I get the effects listed under the oxycodone abuse category?
John, there will be no harm caused if you follow your doctors instructions. Only when you abuse Oxycodone, will it cause brain damage. Good question ;)
[...] Things That Kill Brain Cells Hey guys, I wrote a fairly long article that discusses 50 Things That Kill Brain Cells. I thought you all might be interested in checking it out I’d love to hear some feedback. [...]
This is a pretty comprehensive list. I especially liked the one’s that focused on habits (that weren’t drug usage) that kill our brain cells.
Now for things that will help your brain cells grow, I recently wrote an article called “7 Lessons From the World’s Greatest Minds.” I think you might like it!
http://jonathanmead.com/2008/03/09/7-lessons-from-the-worlds-greatest-minds/
Ahhh, that list is scary. Thanks for posting though, it’s probably the most comprehensive list I’ve seen on the subject.
Hey Johnathan – Glad you liked the list. I checked out your article: it was well-written and an enjoyable read. I hope to see you around the community more often ;)
Loser2WinnerGuy – Yeah, some items on the list are definitely scary. I tried to make it a very comprehensive list. I really packed it with a lot of info! Thanks for stopping by, I’m glad you found it interesting ;)
Ecstasy won’t “put holes in your brain.”
It’s not even known whether MDMA does much of anything permanently harmful to your brain.
Not sure where you got that information, unless it was from an anti-drug brochure.
Hey Jay, actually it will. I’ve seen video footage of brain scans involving: 2 volunteers that have have used ecstacy vs. 2 volunteers that have been drug free. They compared brain scans. Result: the ecstacy users had holes where brain matter should be…
Wow! It’s just as well we have LOTS of brain cells. :?
BTW, #6 is misnamed – it really should be called something like “inadequate nutrition”. As you point out in the paragraph, if you eat junk food AND get enough nutrients your brain should be okay…
It seems to me there’s atleast one misrepresentation here…
Alcohol is ethyl alcohol, hence ethanol, hence if ethanol is represented as not destroying braincells in casual use under alcohol why is there a comment with connotations in direct contrast to this statement under absinthe?
Why use statement 7′s “could potentially harm you” to say casual use is safe(r) while saying the opposite for the same reasons in statement 15?
Microwaves you wont ever get away from, consider beyond microwave ovens there’s sources of microwave radations in the telecommunications industry. ill bet that many places you cannot avoid having microwaves pass through you at all times. Mmm if i remember right many GPS systems use microwaves to communicate with satelites.
@ Irrelevant – Thanks for sharing your comments ;)
@ Ouroboros – Absinthe has more than just the ethyl alcohol at work to kill brain cells. I state what else w/ in the article ;)
@ Pathos – There are definitely places w/ significantly lower amounts of microwaves than others though ;)
ya thats so cool how u can kill ur cells in ur head by all that crap
i had alot of these.. i think i need help too….my brain is pretty much gone?????
[...] http://4mind4life.com/blog/2008/02/22/50-things-that-kill-brain-cells/ [...]
Loser2WinnerGuy is right, this is definitely the most comprehensive list regarding brain cell loss on the internet. I have a question: does bumping your head, getting hit in the head, or getting punched in the head cause brain cell loss? I’m not talking about serious head trauma or concussions, just accidental and/or unwanted blows to the head, not necessarily leaving any bruises or bumps. I’ve banged my head plenty of times, and have also, sadly, been punched in the head plenty of times as well. Nothing I’ve read really provides a convincing answer, so I would really appreciate your reply.
It really depends on the severity of the blow James. Getting punched in the head definitely could cause some neuron (brain cell) death. Minor hits like you’re referring to are likely to do considerably less damage than things like concussions.
Slight hits to the head aren’t anything to worry about. If there was repeated exposure to “getting hit on the head” for an extended period of time – then you may have something to be a little concerned with. Hope this helps :)
HAHA That’s funny they dont mention anything about pot. lol
can ELF waves kill brain cells and how about the electric treatment for psychos
hey, it s cool that pot does not kill brain cells, for extazy it is sure that it fucks up the brain, i felt it personally dont do it, cocain as well it s horrible … just get some pot and smoke it ( pay attention to your lungs though), stay away from other stuff… exercise a lot, it kind of compensates the bad stuff you have done , and regularly by the way.
That was a very good question James, I was wondering about the same thing that occured to me a while ago from a hard blow to the forehead, which got me quite concerned. Was worried if it would be permanent damage cuz my head is still hurting. Pot does not kill your brain cells in case you didn’t know michelle. You really do know alot about the brain Drew. Ecstasy won’t put holes in your brain only if the right ingredients are found in it, which are very rare to find.
damn….i sniffed special k (ketamine) everyday for 2 years str8 and was high for every moment of everyday in that time period. but i stopped 2 months ago for university but i dun feel as smart as a use to. does k really do THAT MUCH DAMAGE or is it just cuz it’s university?
So smoking pot doesnt kill brain cells?? What about smoking oxycontin?? and approximately how many brain cells does each kill if any??
if you constntly head but your friend do you lose ten brain cells?
My friend got me hooked on this keyboard remover does this stuff kill lots of brain cells
Hi Drew thank you for such a comprehensive list, it helped a lot.
I have i question though, I drink a lot of tea, about 10 cups a day, and I’m pretty young, will it kill my brain cells or cause any damage. Please answer and thank you if you do answer.
If a person undergone in a coma due to kill of brain cells. what percentage of chance of rebuilt of brain cells is ? How can brain cell are recovered in a coma period ? Please answer and thank you if you do answer.
Am I high or is smoking pot not on this list? Yay!
So basically if you…
Wash your hair, or are a women that wears makeup…
Were a child before the 80′s or 90′s and had a lead based paint covered crib and blinds…
Fell and bonked your head (what little child hasn’t or even adults)….
Painted wallls….
Shook your head no….
Drank too much water at once….
Been stressed out…
Been to the dentist… or had a baby and required nitrous oxide for the pain.
Smoked
Used a microwave, especially to make popcorn…
Been anxious or stressed out…
Given that list a good majority of our population should be clinically brain dead… and given that Einstein msut have lived in a bubble.
I am sorry, I don’t buy this list, I am sure in extreme circumstances and even the drug ones can cause brain cell damage but simply shaking your head no, that is absurd… though it does explain the damage caused when you shake a baby/child.
^Kimmie, having a few brain cells die MOST DEFINITELY DOES NOT mean that you will become “clinically braindead”… It really depends on how many cells you lose. Most people do not lose a significant amount of brain cells from the activities you listed in your comment.
Hello,
I have extreme anxiety and depression. I find it hard to get 8 hours of sleep and eat 3 square meals a day. I get so stressed sometimes my brain tingles for a little bit leaving me dizzy. Am I losing braincells? I also suffered from a minor concussion a year ago and was left dizzy and had hazzy memory(roughly how many did I lose from a MINOR concussion?) is my anixety and depression killing my brain cells as well? I suffer from this on a daily basis and I am worried my IQ will not be over a 100 in a few years anymore. I smoke pot on regular basis when i can because it is the only that centers me out but when I dont have pot i eat myself up inside. I am on the vurge of getting a medicinal mariuana prescription but i live in canada and these things take time.
Thank you
This list is rediculous. How is taking a drug like oxycodon any better for you if a doctor tells you to take it? Only difference is some people need it. Anything on this list about drugs s obviously skewed in the direction of anti drugs
A fantastic guide to learn about the causes to dead brain cells. Imagine how much more intellegent we could be by just improving our environment.
[...] drink or smoke or sniff paint or take steroids, or participate on any of the other activities on this list (except maybe avoiding exercise), so my brain cells seem to be pretty safe. Hopefully I will not [...]
this is great
im using your artical for a project Thnx!!
I was wondering if you purposly made yourself passout would that kill brain cells?
The results of the study that suggested MDMA puts holes in your brain were retracted. Do some research. A british study suggests that MDMA is one of the safest drugs that can be taken, safer than alcohol. (Yes alcohol is a drug. So it the caffeine in your coffee.)
MDMA putting holes in your brain is a completely false myth. The study was done by a “anti-drug” corporation that used methamphetamine on monkeys – and said it was MDMA. Pure propaganda nonsense..
In fact, MDMA with the right regime is BENEFICIAL TO THE HUMAN BRAIN: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_journal2.shtml
With the right regime (consisting of mostly anti-oxidants,the chemical 5HTP), MDMA can help shape the brain long-term regarding emotional intelligence. Normally, it would take the brain on average a week for serotonin to be up to balance again – but with a regime, levels stay consistent before and after.
Drew,
The published study and its press release refer to the differences in 5-HT transporter levels as “brain damage”. Whether one calls these differences in neurochemistry “brain damage” or not appears to be mostly a question of perspective. Opponents of MDMA’s therapeutic and recreational use argue that any reduction in available serotonin (or in this case transporters) should be considered “neural injury” and that “potential functional consequences of MDMA-induced brain 5-HT neurotoxic lesions are not yet clear, but may include depression, anxiety, memory disturbance, and other neuropsychiatric disorders in which brain 5-HT has been implicated.”[c] All too frequently, negative speculations by researchers are misread as scientific “proof” when it comes to recreationally used psychoactives.
Other then that, another great list.
Where are your sources and/or where did you get your M.D? I fail to see how any of this is to be believed without proper citation to some actual professionals who know what they are talking about. You are just some kid who came up with some things that they heard in high school Health class.
Welding fumes? Chronic negative thoughts? Rapidly shaking your head? Come on you have got to come up with some better stuff than that bro.
Hi – do you have any details about whether mobile phone use (including hands-free and bluetooth headset use) has any effect on brain-call death?
Thanks
Hi
Is there any information about whether using a mobile phone (including with hands-free or blue-tooth kits) kills off brain cells?
Thanks
i know i might sound stupid, but ive heard that when you sneeze or hold in a sneeze you kill brain cells, so i was wondering, is that true??? and my other question is, how many brain cells does the average person have in thier brain???
oh shit so ethyl alohol kills brain cells!!!
omg i was so stupid to have drank a hand cleaner bottle that contained 75% of ethyl alcohol XD
but it was a dare…. and i got a dollar out of it :D
but it wasnt worth it
KIDS DONT DRINK POISON!
I can most certainly understand why alcohol would cause neuronal damage in extremely high doses, but I’ve never heard of Opiates, i.e., heroin, Oxycodone, causing any kind of physical/mental damage. If anything, opiates are actually quite safe, as far as the body is concerned, that is.
You stated that Oxycodone is capable of causing damage to the Heart, kidneys and brain. Is there any scientific evidence that has demonstrated this as being valid? It would seem odd that a substance that merely emulates specific neurotransmitters in the brain would be directly responsible for such substantial cognitive decay. But aside from that, I think this list is a fairly good, comprehensive collection of things that people ought to stay away from. Nice job, peace.
What about marijuana and its affect on the brain?
in response to Steve, there are new studies that suggest that marijuana usage actually promotes neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells).
Keep in mind though, the act of smoking any substance can be harmful. In the case of cannabis though, it probably does more damage to your lungs than to your brain!
MARIJUANA DOSE NOT KILL BRAIN CELLS!!!! Ever idiot that thinks that is stupid.
When they were studying marijuana they would put gas masks on monkeys and pump huge amounts of marijuana into them.
This was making them unable to inhale oxygen they were only inhaling smoke so that make them loose brain cells and scientist thought that the marijuana was killing the cells.
^^ That was proved a long time ago.
I was curious if a 1 yr. old boy being spun around in his swing then getting so dizzy that he made a scary face would be able to cause brain damage.
He is fine now and right afterwards. I am just scared that maybe something happened to his brain from not being able to control the dizziness more like an adult can.
Please help!
good to know all that. but I have a question, i’ve heared that too much sleeping kills the brain cells too “im talking about 12 hours of sleeping” is that true?? :D
Ok, wow how big of a dumbass does someone have to be to say that Oxy and Heroin are actually safe for you??? What a retard…
By the sounds of this list…. I don’t have very many braincells left to work with.
is ther more ways to kill brain cells.
marijuana might not directly kill brains cells, but surely the paranoia or stress you may get in the long run can cause the death of brain cells.
Aah if only drugs like this and the white stuff were good – i would probably have a healthy little brain now.
Right time to exercise and eat lots of blueberries!
Sorry to break it to you T, but Oxy and Heroin are very safe if you take it right.
Oxy and Heroin, will increase your life span if used correctly by creating endorphins.
The only problem is, there is no way to use them correctly if you buy them off the street because people add junk, and the lifestyle will kill you fast.
They actually would increase your life span, if they were legal and non-prescription.
i dont understand why having an adrenaline rush helps to kill brain cells, the reason i love to exercise and run is because of these wonderful rushes, that i like to call “body orgasms”. charlene
and exercise produces new brain cells, right?
You really misrepresent a lot of information on this list. One instance is “Heroin has been linked to Alzheimer-like brain damage.” While this is technically true, it’s important to mention this is only the case when black tar Heroin is smoked off of tin foil.
There are many more examples you listed that are either incorrectly represented, or vaguely explained. While obviously not all of it is incorrect, it’s unfortunate that your list has so many things that are based off of psuedo-science and unsupported ‘scientific’ claims.
I challenge everyone on here to google if ecstasy really does put holes in the brain. Every page that comes up gives a clear and definite NO.
Adrian,
I watched a documentry a while ago about how it’s similar to holding a microwave up to your head, bottom line. The younger you are the more damaging it is because of the thickness of the skull. I’m not sure if it actually kills brain cells, but there’s an answer.
uhmmmm….this is a bunch a bull….omg…like who really knows?? most these things you can’t control…WOW people!!!!
LOL @ all of the pro-drug hippies on here. Your comments prove just how brain dead you truly are.
Does dying of hair’ll decrease brain cells?
I heard somewhere (forget where) that talking kills brain cells. Is this true?
I was on Oxycontin for 9 months for severe bladder pain; I took 3 daily and it did not take away the pain altogether. I am just wondering if I did brain damage because there are times when I have absolutely no memory of some things in the past. My doctor told me that the level I was taking was what a person dying of cancer would take. Before that, I took up to 10 Vicodin daily. Thankfully I have been pain-free for six years due to a laser surgery. Thank you for any help you can give me!
Ruthann Dawley
Michigan
This list is ridiculous. I think you should do REAL research before posting misleading information. Over half of these points are false and the actions do NOT kill “brain cells”. God bless the internet, and the idiots who troll them.
most of what you put on here is ludicrous! according to what you’re saying basically EVERYTHING kills brain cells! where are your sources and what kind of MULTIPLE degrees do you have that gives you proof of all these facts?
There is a lot of false information here…
For instance, what you say about ecstasy is false (you won’t produce a reliable reference), and about methamphetamine is inaccurate. There are many documented cases of methamphetamine addicts with “holes” in their brains. But this is actually caused by mercury in the meth, and not the meth itself. (The mercury is used as a catalyst in the reaction to make meth, and is not always removed sufficiently.)
Found this site with google looking for something else, and couldn’t just let it sit here without commenting on its inaccuracy.
And of all things to forget on your list – prion diseases like BSE that you get from eating infected beef!!!!
Hey everyone.
Just wanted to say that I was a regular user of LSD, ecstasy, and smoked bud on a regular basis during high school. I don’t drop acid any more, but I still roll every once in a while, and I still toke the bong at least once a night. I am happy to report that I graduated from BCU last June, majoring in radiation physics, and currently have no side affects (or ever did for that matter). I dropped acid for about 2 years at least once a week, and I will tell you that it opened up a whole new world. Much of my basic understanding of quantum physics came from acid trips, while surfing the web, and watching ” What The Bleep Do We Know? Down The Rabbit Hole.” You cannot say that drugs affect everyone the same way. I for instance am a very good problem solver and a mathematical whiz. I have more common sense than most the people in my county, and people comment on how smart, and kind I am all the time.
And just as a note, ecstasy ceases the firing of you’re neurons, it doesn’t necessarily kill you’re brain cells. You are constantly making new brain cells all the time, every time you learn something new. The only problem is that for these brain cells to mature, you need to use them. All this bull crap information came from statistics of lazy bums who dropped out of high school and got addicted to their “pride and joy”. So take it from me:
If you’re gonna do drugs, then do drugs; dont let drugs do you, and stay in school.
I didn’t even take a look at your other drugs, but I know for a FACT that it has not been proven that MDMA kills brain cells. As previously stated before, that famous picture that compares a healthy brain and a brain on ecstasy is a FRAUD. This scientist later admitted that he used methamphetamine instead of MDMA.
The whole hoax was a government propaganda scare tactic. NOW this is not to say the MDMA does NOT kill brain cells. But honestly the jury is still out on substances that you can buy OC also. Take several cough medicines for example. Used at a high dosage, it CAN kill brain cells.
The most recent German study shows (which most scientist consider the best study of MDMA) that after a few months, an MDMA user has only lost 5% of his serotonin levels, and a lot of patients required FULLY after a year or two. Now this is not to say that dropping e-pills every week is harmless, but in moderation it isn’t shown to be any more harmless than smoking canabis every day.
The kicker however is that some of these ‘e pills’ contain more dangerous substances than MDMA. That is why it is vital that if you’re going to ROLL, make sure you look up the pills online and make sure that they are CLEAN pure MDMA. Also, give your brain time to recover. Keep ecstasy to an occasional use. Without any science behind it, I’d say to be safe, at least space your rolls out over a few months. It’s been shown rolling consecutively and dampen your serotonin receptors in which they have trouble growing back.
So PLEASE do your research before making such bold, false statements on the matter. I haven’t even finished looking over the rest of these drugs which trust me as a PhD, I’m extremely well educated on.
that is all
notice how marijana is NOT on the list thats because it donsint kill brain cells at all as most of us have been tought by our health teachers and the media and the goverment. dont belive me? well here are some intresting facts in the 1980′s the goverment did test on how weed effected the brain and they told everybody that they found that it killed alot of brain cells and was very bad for you but when asked what test they did the gov. refused to answer. finally after years they gave up and relaesed the research papers. the tests they did were that they put gas masks on monkeys (yeah i know its already getting bad) and had tubes hooked up to they and pummped enough smoke for 50 joints into the masks within 5 mins. and after that the monkeys started passing out and there brains were perminetly damaged. Well duhhh of course they had brain damage they breathed nothing but smoke for 5 whole mins! i dont care how good of lungs u have breathing smoke for that long will have servier damage. this is just another example of how the goverment trys to control us and how we think. There is nothing wrong with weed ,its a plant and there is no facts that can tell you that it is harmful on your body or brain. So think for yourself dont listin to the lies of the media or the gov. do the reaserch yourself and promote the leagalization of marijana!
To “The Truth”, all you anti-drug brainwashed idiots think you know it all huh?
The fact of the matter is, alcohol and prescription drugs are far more dangerous than illegal drugs. Marijuana does not kill brain cells, MDMA doesn’t either, neither does acid or any of the opiates (unless you overdose, but than brain cells die from lack of oxygen, not from the drug). Yet alcohol, a legal drug does kill brain cells, and can cause permanent brain damage.
You need to understand the real truth, you are fed BS from the government and its various propaganda organizations, not to mention pharmaceutical companies. Do a little research and you’ll find what I’m saying is The Truth.
No you guys are not high, pot does not kill brain cells. Just temporarily stuns them. Ecstasy also doesn’t burn holes in your brain. The anti-drug companies which are RAN by the pharmaceutical and alcohol companies hired a scientist to use methamphetamine instead of MDMA in the lab test. Watch “Ecstasy Rising” on youtube. It’s a business, you guys are all idiots. The alcohol companies can’t exist if the other safer drugs become legal. Alcohol also kills brain cells by the first drink.
your article is dumb, the whole time you’re alive you’re dying so brain cells just die from being alive.
Just for a reality check here: none of you claiming MDMA doesn’t cause brain damage have really backed it up either. Let’s use this example. I publish a study that says lung cancer kills people. Later, I retract it and say the person really had bone cancer. This does NOT prove that lung cancer doesn’t kill people now does it? I don’t believe there’s been a proper long term study to show that MDMA risks are minimal.
Now, this isn’t to say that I think it causes brain damage and it doesn’t say I’m really anti-drug. I just think the logic is bad in some of your posts. That being said, I think some of those things that cause brain damage in the list are questionable at best. I also agree with the post about absinthe. Just because it has two compounds in it isn’t the problem. The fact that you list alcohol in that saying it’s dangerous after before saying it’s ok in moderation. Sure, thujone is a problem but you should probably leave the alcohol part out.
My cousin took meth and went to rehab. He quit taking it and had bipolar disease. He was on cyraquil for about a day when he took it, it made him aspirate in his sleep, he choked on his vomit and he died. His pharmacist gave him more than the recommended dose for his age and it killed him. This proves that prescription drugs can be worse for you than illegal drugs, but why take illegal drugs anyway. In the long run, they will kill you.
Jay, the affects of mdma are pretty scary – I know two people who work closely with MRI’s and they both said that people have “@#$!ing holes in their brain” due to constant use of the drug.
As for cannabis it doesn’t kill brain cells; it just puts a blanket/coating on the memory receptors. There are people who can smoke & study all day for many days for exam and it can be a good way to retain information in the short run and ace an exam. But when this layer of coating slowly detaches from the memory receptors so does patches of information you have retained throughout the heavy/heavier ingestion period of cannabis.
No study has shown that oxycodone abuse, or any other pure opiates cause brain damage.
man my brain is so fuck’t up
16 thing in the list
Me and my friends were just getting high on helium,we werent getting’High’ but we just wanted to make that funny helium noise,after that we all had bad headaches and felt light headed..we reasearched on inhaling helium and it said it kills your brain cells & that they had reports of some high school guys actually dying cause of that.. IS THAT BAD? I didnt find any info on this website on inhailing helium… but is killing your brain cells BAD???!!! Were only 13, and were all freaked out!!!! lol:)Oh and i forgot to mention, i inhaled like 3 balloons…it was my firstt timeeee…! I know,, that was stupid but it was funn!! But i hated it it after awhileee……
I have been taking amphetamines for years aka adderall prescribed 15 mg 3 times a day but usually take like 4-8 pills instead of one would this cause the same damage as methamphetamines my mind goes nuts it feels like 10 lines of cocaine
WOW! My Brain is going to die before my body, then my body will die shortly after. I’ve accidentally done a lot of those things on the list. :(
haha we can see you’ve already lost some brain cells from that comment you made about heroin and oxy not being dangerous T.
this article should be #1
I have no doubt that drugs such as PCP, alcohol, and ketamine will kill brain cells, but to claim that oxycodone will damage the brain, heart, and kidneys is erroneous and false.
There’s no conclusive evidence to support your claim.
If anything, oxycodone is–despite the fact that it’s addictive and can cause dependence in some users–probably one of the safest pain killers available by modern medical standards.
Oxycodone belongs to a class of drugs called “opioid analgesics.” Opioids mimic the brain’s naturally occurring endorphins to make the patient feel less distress while they’re in pain.
To sum up the article: Lead a healthy peaceful life, eat healthy, sleep plenty, and stay away from exposures to chemicals and drugs.
In other words, lead a life of moderation and self-restrain.
Thanks for the reminder.
i thought aspartame can cause cancer in laboratory animals ;
I used to hear people say – Aspartame is bad… but I never heard a consistent reason why, so I didn’t take the warning seriously.
Here’s what finally convinced me to avoid aspartame like the plague. I found out it is made by fusing two amino acids (building blocks of the protiens we consume) with methanol. When the body breaks it down the methanol is set loose – in the body.
Methanol is also referred to as Wood Alcohol. Supposedly people without access to ethanol (the alcohol in booze) used to filter it through bread prior to drinking it – thinking this made it safe.
Not so… blindness and many other bad problems. Avoiding aspartame (aka nutrasweet) will help keep that nasty and poisonous compound out of your body.
I wish I knew a little more about this. I have been to four weblogs today researching information and facts, almost all web sites I have visited I’ve found the comments area has turned into a slanging match. It isn’t really the sort of thing young women consider, therefore i had been hoping somebody right here could actually help out?
This is an excellent list that I have posted on my website…but with a few corrections, the greatest one being the one concerning MDMA (Ecstasy). There has never been a study which has positively proved that MDMA kills brain cells. This in fact, is an outright lie but I do not put the blame on the author of this article, since I myself did not realize the truth concerning MDMA until a few years ago when I actually researched the scientific studies and read first-hand what the conclusions and findings were.
Like a previous individual wrote, watch the documentary Ecstasy Rising. Please correct your article so that it can reflect the facts of the matter. There is no need for the projection of fear, especially when it is based on a fallacy.
This list failed to mention chronic pain. Several major, well-funded studies have shown that people with chronic pain lose gray matter twice as fast as do people without chronic pain.
Also, did I miss something, or was aging not on the list, either? I believe even if a person lived an entirely “clean” life breathing super pure air, eating only organic food and was perfectly hydrated all of the time, etc., they would still experience brain cell death over time simply due to the aging process.
mdma evaporated my soul and gave me mood swings for like two years. i still havent gotten the soul back.
Today I accidentally dropped some burning tobacco from a lit cigarette onto the card table I was sitting at, and it burned a hole in the plastic. I could smell the fumes for a few seconds. Do I have permanant brain damage????
HELP!!!
So I came here to see how bad MDMA was and for future reference, it might be true or not idk, but putting eating junk food at like 4 really REALLY takes the scare factor out of everything else. I was like shit.. I should probably stop with the pills then I see “Eating junk food” and instantly the threat just goes away.
Let’s also not forget that ABUSE of oxycodone also causes damage to the heart wall, the heart muscle, and the kidneys, and if it happens to be mixed with APAP (acetaminophen), then the kidneys and LIVEr are also at high risk for those who abuse this helpful, yet oh so dangerous drug.
What about infections on the surface of the scalp? will that kill brain cells???
soooo taking exctasy will not put holes in your brain.. if you actually questioned your sources and dug deeper there was a whole controversy on how the government tainted that experiment.. first off they didnt even use MDMA.. they used methamphetamine.. and the so called “holes” you see in the scan is not missing brain matter haha.. its lower brain activity. please dont believe everything your told because most of the time theres alot more to it than you think.
Pretty sure microwaves do not cause the damage stated here. Microwaves use non – ionizing radiation. The most harm possible from this type of radiation is a burn.
I don’t know how much of this article is true, but I’m skeptical of a few of the items on here.
My Husband has been addicted to heroin for 30 yrs ., When I met him he had been off methadone for 3 yrs but never told me he had a drug problem after we got married he met up with an old buddy and started using again. that was 7 yrs ago, he got back on methadone we have been married 9 yrs. he gets on methadone and then still uses and denies it. I notice he talks to himself alot lately and i work everyday and he got laid off about 7 mos ago i notice after he goes to his friends he comes home and he is up all night cleaning , out in back yard , acts irratic. and sometime when I get up at 4am he has still not been a sleep and I know his methadone makes him hyper in morning but, does herion make you hyper and make you talk to yourself ,, he is very recluse and stays in his room most of the day.? it frightens me. I no longer want to be married to him just can not afford to move at present time not until summer. is he dangerouse? What do I do. should I be scared? it creeps me out that he is wandering around why I am sleeping. I have no kids or anyone at house. He said he hates methamphetamine so I don’t think he is on that he does not act like they do afterwards when coming down.
I have a question. I know you said that a slight hit to the head is nothing to worry about, but does a very slight moving of the head rapidly kill brain cells. As in like A VERY slight vibration?
im am sorry to inform u that alot of your facts are not entirely correct. I dont know if you just went to a bunch of websites and decided to take what you thought sounded good but some of your facts are incorrect. Dont post things as fact if you do not know for certain if they are. Do you have a degree? I am sure you dont i will not go into what is incorrect in your article because frankly it will take an extremely long time and will not mentally satisfy me enough to go indepth but i will give you credit for a good attempt at writing a knowledgable article on what will destroy your body and mind. Good try. I give you a C+ for doing your best. Maybe an A if i was a special ED teacher but sadly I am not so i will stick with my grading of C+. Good day to you and everyone that posted and destorted your preceptions by viewing this poorly written article. For something that wasnt in the article, look into fluoride in our water supply. I key component in a couple of prescription drugs used for psychiatric issues and is also used as a military nerve gas. It is know to “Dumb people down” thank you goverment. Keep the people dumb and docile and they will be happy. Knowledge is power people learn the facts so you can properly protect yourselves. Good louck in your quest for knowledge.
Another activity that is harmful to the brain: Using a cell-phone. A 2003 study found that rats exposed for two hours for 50 days developed lesions in the brain and damage to neurons. Other studies have confirmed cognitive impairment from this technology.
Man. I should really stop having strokes. I used to just go out and have strokes all the time. Next time I’ll think twice about having a stroke and remember the fact that I will lose brain cells from having one. Thank you 4mind4life I will forever be in your debt.
This information is completely skewed. I didn’t look into all of the comments but right off the bat I can see how misinformed the writer is. Wherever you get your information, you obviously need a new source. Lets start at the basics, cocaine does not kill brain cells, it can give you seritonin depletion and disorders IF you completely abuse it, as it taking more than a couple grams a day for many years. Numerous tests have been completed on this exact subject by NON GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL DOCTORS and have proven that cocaine constant users will completely return back to normal brain waves and memory cells within a couple weeks, and this was after more than 20 years of constant abuse. Now on to MDMA or more commonly known as “ecstasy”, they are constantly testing on this newer more popular drug and have just about the same conclusions as cocaine, of course “e” can be cut with numerous different drugs, mainly meth or similar amphetamines which can kill brain cells, but we should be talking about MDMA and just that since that is how you titled that part. It can produce seritonin depletion and syndrome just like cocaine can from constant use and high, hiiiiiiiigh, doses. Seritonin takes around 5-7 days to completely restore your seritonin and other dopamine factors in the brain. So yes, if you abuse ANYTHING YOU WILL AND CAN DIE or lose brain cells, including water, oxygen or exercise. Keep this in mind when using anything in this world, we must use everything in some sort of moderation or else our bodies cannot adjust properly, remember everyone is different and doses range in every person, so simply be careful and live your life!
Oh and I forgot to mention about the person that posted about marijuana, sorry if someone else has already posted about it but marijuana only freezes brain cells until the person is sober again, which can take a few hours or max a day for people who dont excercise, are older in age, eat correctly and various metabolizing effects all make the range difference in this freezing property. When you look in comparing to a lot of other drugs, alcohol for instance will both DAMAGE and KILL brain cells, damaging is actually the worse part in this subject of alcohol because when you damage brain cells, the damaged ones stay in your brain and work basically at half speed, rather killing you can at least produce more. Not sure if alcohol is even in this “50 list” but either way, thats probably because whoever posted this once again is either brainwashed by the lovely government, or just simply has no idea about the subject matter, which is fine that is why I am here and the others trying to correct him.
Anyways once again, good luck, stay healthy and once again LIVE YOUR LIFE!
Well, do brain cells come back? If so, how long does it take? I heard it takes around 50 years??
shit were all gana die now!
This is awful both my mother and I have narcolepsy but I am untreated and she has gone off medication. We are mild enough cases to where we are allowed to drive and don’t need a dog, are we still losing brain cells? Do you have to have medication to stop brain cell loss? They were just prescribing Ritalin does that really help?
Wow, most of you guys are so retarded its so annoying hearing of ” conspiracy theories” and also this article is poorly written and pobably written by a mom who thinks she knows everything because she read something on the internet once
Oxcycontin causes Brain damage? lol. How? Where is the proof that even abusing oxcycontin can lead to Brain damage. That’s the most ridiculous thing I have seen.
WARNING: Some junk foods are worser than others. For instense pancakes have a special toxic cemical in them that is sooo bad for your brain. unlike ice cream, which, like marijuana, only causes brain freeze.
So basically, lock yourself in a room, stare at the wall and try not to drink too much water. You’ll be the next Einstein.
I have had a mild concussion and had been electrocuted from a home plug to the point where my face was black and had to be wiped and my hair was all frizzy and lifted up in the air all in my youth. During high school I also went alot of nights sleeping only 3 hours per night. I am prescribed methamphetamine salts for my ADHD that I have had since I was a a child and also went through a toxic psychosis followed by major periods of stress and depression after for about 8 months after smoking too much pot from 18 to 20 years old. My IQ at 15 years old before all of the drugs, the concussion and sleep problems was always ranging around 130 to 140 from school tests. I have taken one recently at university being scared it would be dramatically lower. My IQ score is in the same range, 136.
Take this article with a grain of salt. I’m not saying go take drugs, get a boxing career and don’t worry about concussions or don’t worry about electricty but you will not get life changing brain damage if any from most of these triggers except the most obvious ones, the biggest brain damage you will probably take in your life will be from aging, and no one is forever young.
Nicotine has been cited by numerous studies to help memory and intelligence. You cite one article that quotes a study??? Are you sure you didn’t try looking up ‘nicotine brain damage’ on google (IE looking for reasons why nicotine is bad). Try looking up ‘nicotine intelligence’.
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_neurotoxicity3.shtml
And THC (weed) reacts con THC recipticons or something complex like that… in other words it’s healthy
I think I lost brain cells reading this junk. Don’t believe everything you read folks. Do some more research… This is just one man’s thoughts, and we can be certain he is not above us all to create his own set of “commandments”.
i brink 2 liter of water everyday does it going to damage my brain cells.
I accidently hit my friend on top of the head. She wasnt dizy and didnt pass out or anything of the sorts, but i wanted to make sure she would be fine. Will she?
in answer to sam, your friend is most certainly losing thousands of brain cells by the minute, she should visit a hospital immediately, LOOOOOOOL XD
i dont understand how can cooking popcorn kill some of your brain cells?
I wonder how many braincells I killed reading this.
Cocaine doesn’t kill brain cells dumb ass. It’s unclear if it even harms them, and if the harm is reversible or not. It’s way worse for your heart, really. It feels like you’re going to have a heart attack sometimes. But only sometimes. ;)
Damn, I’ve got Tourettes Syndrome, and that causes me to constantly shake my head. How many brain cells would I lose on average because of my Tourettes?
Dose sneezing kill brain cells?
hahaha anyone notice that it doesnt say anything about smoking marajuana??
THIS LIST IS BOGUS!! I have had extensive training in the medical field, and have worked for a long while at my hospital. Yes, some of these listed does cause brain damage, but a lot of them are unfounded, un-cited, and simply not true. Negative thinking? BS!!
DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BLINDLY POST
Hello, Ever since I was 13, I always had trouble sleeping and usually I would stay up pass 12. I am currently 16 years old and I still cant sleep. Sometimes I pull all nighters. Do you think there’s a possibility I have lost brain cells in the pass 3 years? I am very curious because I forget alot of typical things that normal people usual wouldn’t. Also, It seems like my memory is getting worst and I can never stay focused. Lastly, I sometimes feel slow and dumb because I can never pick up on things. For example, when someone asks me a question like what did you on your test? In my head I know I got a B but it takes a long time for me to process questions/things through my head and say it out loud. No, I do not have ADHD. I eat healthy, I exercise, I never smoked in my LIFE and, I don’t drink alcohol. Please answer my question! :)
Alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells. That’s a leftover myth of the prohibition era.
reading this article killed many brain cells, and possibly gave me cancer.
First of all, I wanted to congratulate you on a very interesting, and informative article.
I’d like to say that I am certainly not an English major, so forgive me if parts of my comment are somewhat poorly structured if not totally incomprehensible. I realize I don’t have the best grammar in the world.
Professionally, I’m actually a neurosurgeon, so I often enjoy reading these sorts of articles, just to judge the general public perception of brain injury. I’ve noticed that some of the effects that you’ve described here are somewhat hyperbolic, to be realistic. For example, there is equipment which we use regularly which outputs microwave radiation. That specific kind of wave happens to be non-ionizing, meaning it doesn’t change the structure of our DNA. This means, that more or less, it’s a safe radiation for us to encounter. Did you know that microwaves are also emitted from phones and W-LAN routers? It’s true! Being that you obviously have a computer, it’s likely that there is a consistent concentration of them throughout your home as you read this. Fear not, though, the levels are far too weak to pose any sort of real threat. That’s something else I should mention, there are instances in the brain of what’s known as “glial regeneration” where glial cells actually repair the damaged axons of certain neurons. So even if the cells “die” don’t count yourself out just yet. The brain has many, many, many defenses against damage. Don’t forget, we’re mammals who walk upright, and lead with out heads, light taps and bumps often don’t have enough force to even move your brain a significant amount, much less do significant damage. Over the course of your life time, you’ll probably never experience a negative change in your general intellect, unless you take direct measures to facilitate it. It certainly is possible to cause massive damage to the brain, however generally speaking, the things described here are every-day occurrences (well, except perhaps for the drug abuse), and should not be disconcerning to you. Generally speaking, you’ll be fine. If you do have a bad bump on the head, become dizzy, or concuss, then please see a medical professional, as without treatment, the associated consequences could be deadly, but for minor things, such as exposure to microwave radiation, minor bumps and taps, inhalation of second-hand smoke, carcinogens, or other toxins, or other small issues, have no fear, you’ve probably done no damage to yourself whatsoever, and even if you have, you certainly have enough neurons in your brain to deal with the loss with no noticeable repercussions.
There is one more thing I wanted to address before I go, and that is the idea of “holes” in the brain. In all my twenty years of surgery, never once have I seen someone with a hole in his or her brain, at least, not beyond one that we had to put there ourselves (and believe me, we only make incredibly small, localized incisions, and we don’t make them unless absolutely necessary). Anyone who tells you that you’re putting massive holes in your brain are simply perpetuating ignorance, and you should correct them, if possible. The brain is actually composed mostly of fat (well, lipids) which makes sense if you think about it’s cellular structure. I don’t think I’ve ever seen, or ever will see, someone who’s abused a substance to the point of a massive localized depression in their outer neural tissue, as I simply don’t believe it’s possible. The brain should maintain it’s structure, even with a massive amount of scar tissue. While I’m sure that casual, chronic consumption of drugs and alcohol certainly isn’t the healthiest option for you, I certainly don’t think that, even with extensive, extended use, it could do a massive amount of damage to you. Just as a disclaimer, I should mention that this is from my own experiences, and not from a formalized study.
Anyway, thanks for the article. Over all, don’t worry about it! You can afford to lose braincells, in fact, it’s totally naturally for us to do so! It’s not necessarily a bad thing, so don’t be paranoid about it, it’s okay. Your intelligence will NOT suffer on any level, I can promise you that. In fact, the only limiting factors, generally speaking, that my patients have are those that they impose on themselves, the idea that they can’t do something, despite the fact that physically, they are capable.
Don’t despair my concerned, neurology-loving friends. Your brains are built to last, and last, they shall.
-Dr. Brent Ledrew
Does anyone have any extra brain cells to donate me?
Can anyone please advice,need help,have been experi
encing severe neurological symptoms after having a dermal filler injection into forehead area 3 months ago.I have memory loss,nausea,severe weight loss,burning headaches,dihorea,severe depression have several tests but they show nothing.Also blurred vision and tinnitus,eyes are discoordinated also have lack of attention span,asked gp for pet scan but has referred me to neurologist in december,may possibly fly to germany for private scan as cannot go on like this.Was perfectly fine before,didnt get botox as had heard of side effects,used hyaluronic acid filler.I feel that it has migrated to eyes and possibly brain causing these vast array of symptoms also have severe brain fog continuously,my doctor thinks it is not possible for a filler to pass the blood brain barrier but reports say botox can.Please anyone with insight into this please reply,i am not imagining these horrible feelings for the last 3 months.I am so ill this has ruined my life i cant function normally.The doctor who administered the injection says he has never heard of a reaction like this i have since read that putting filler in this area is considered 2off label”i am very scared,this is also affecting my nerves in my arms and legs.Thank you for any input,i have also never had a dermal filler before this.
You forgot to mention aging– getting older than 25-30 will cost you 10-30 000 brain cells a day.
its proven that ecstasy doesnt cause brain damage,
the case studies involving experimental and control group, had confounding variables where the individuals all that took ecstasy engaged in other drugs and had very late night etc.. which could have well caused the brain damage(holes in brain) that was present.
anyway they did another experiment that was more comprehensive and ruled out the extraneous/confounding variables.
which resulted in showing that ecstasy doesnt cause brain damage.. or ‘holes in your brain’
This list is extremely suspect. Who wrote this? Are you a doctor, or a scientist? Where do you get your information? NO2 does not kill brain cells and there is no magic to ingesting NO2 in a medical setting as opposed to your home. It’s the same substance! Same thing with Oxy. Taking an Oxy because your doctor said to versus because your dealer said to will produce the same result. Your list sounds like you have an agenda.
Bit about MD’s not true. Those brain scans showed blood flow to the brain with the ‘holes’ being areas where there was smaller blood flow. There’s little evidence for this being caused by MDMA, read this:
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_neurotoxicity3.shtml
for some proper science and not just some scans that were misinterpreted by MTV and Oprah, after all the media does like a bit of hoo haa
Stopped reading the article after that and haven’t checked comments so sorry if this’ already been posted
peace, J