Terrifying 'vape brain' that affects users under the age of 25

A doctor has issued a warning to vape users about a terrifying side effect which is most common among users under the age of 25.

Vaping was first introduced as a healthier alternative to smoking, as while it does contain nicotine, it removes the tar and tobacco found in cigarettes, and it has undoubtedly helped lots of smokers to quit completely.

However, in recent years we have seen more and more people take up vaping, particularly younger people who didn't even previously smoke, and there can be some serious side effects is they are used excessively.

While it still might be better for you than smoking cigarettes, vaping can still do some significant damage to your lungs - with cases of 'popcorn lung' among young smokers enough to warn anyone off.

But now a doctor has warned about the potential impact that vaping can have on your brain if you're under the age of 25 and use one regularly.

Pharmacist and YouTuber Dr Chris said: "I might be the first doctor to coin the term 'vape brain' and here is what I mean by it.

"If you're under 25 you're the perfect target. Your brain is still developing and these chemicals permanently damage your decision making centre. The vape industry spends millions designing flavours and devices to hook you young - mango, mint, candy.

"They're not making these for adults trying to quit smoking. Your first vape could be the start of a decade long addiction - not worth it."

While Dr Chris might have a flair for the dramatic, the points he makes are backed up by the centre for disease control and prevention, who have published similar findings about the effect of vaping on the brain.

Most e-cigarettes still contain nicotine, which makes it dangerous for pregnant women, children and young adults under the age of 25, even though the controversial marketing, colours and flavours have been criticised for being aimed at the younger generation.

Vaping can harm your brains particularly if they're not fully developed (Getty Stock)

Even before younger smokers start to use vapes regularly or daily, they can already start to show signs of nicotine addiction, and the stimulant does damage to the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control.

It's probably fair to suggest that a lot of younger people's attention spans are already suffering due to the short-form content they scroll through on social media, and nicotine is only likely to make things worse.

Adolescents who use nicotine are also at risk for future addiction to other drugs, and are perhaps more likely to take up smoking cigarettes in the future.

The UK has taken some steps to try and prevent under 18s purchasing e-cigarettes, including the ban of disposable vapes, but it still incredibly popular despite the various warnings that come with it.