Quitting smoking can be a real ordeal for many smokers. I know when I quit, it took me three tries before I was finally successful.

The first two times I tried to quit, I spent many weeks struggling with cravings and nicotine withdrawal. Eventually, I caved in to the cravings, and began smoking again. Knowing that I was damaging my health and lowering my life expectancy were not enough to help me successfully quit smoking. I suspect there are many smokers in the same boat. I have recently come across a report about some new research using magnetic brain stimulation to reduce cravings.

The article was published on Medicine Net:

“In smokers, stimulating the brain in certain ways can manipulate their cravings for cigarettes, researchers have found.

The finding could lead to new treatments to help people kick the habit, according to the authors of the study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry.

Using brain imaging technology, researchers from Duke University Medical Center identified several regions of the cerebral cortex and the limbic system, which is involved in emotion, that are activated during cravings. Based on these studies, they used noninvasive magnetic stimulation of these areas of the brain in an attempt to manipulate these cravings.”

Read the full article here: Brain Stimulation

While the research is still in the early stages, it seems like a promising technique that may one day help smokers reduce their cravings for cigarettes, and quit smoking successfully. I especially like the fact that the brain stimulation was done with noninvasive technology, hopefully the research will develop effective treatment strategies to help turn smokers into ex-smokers.

I will try to keep on top of this research, and report developments that may help with quitting smoking, as I learn about them.