Mon added that these findings are consistent with their earlier neuroimaging studies which found chronic smoking in ALC patients was associated with significantly diminished recovery of markers of neuronal, or nerve cell, and cell membrane integrity in multiple brain regions over the same period as this present study.

"These results suggest that patients who want to stop drinking should be offered an option to stop smoking," said Graeme Mason, associate professor of diagnostic radiology and psychiatry at Yale University. "However, any combined cessation has to be designed carefully."

Study results have been mixed, Mason noted. "One study showed that when patients choose to stop smoking and drinking together, they maintain sobriety longer," he said. "Conversely, another study showed the patients who were required to stop smoking at the same time as they stopped drinking did not stay sober as long as those who were not forced." Free will appears to be an important option, he emphasized.

"Additionally," said Mason, "patients may differ in their abilities to handle abstinence from multiple substances at the same time that they may be dealing with other major events in life, but more successful brain recovery may help make those difficult situations easier to manage appropriately. The work of Mons and colleagues certainly suggests that if a patient wishes to tackle both smoking and drinking at the same time, it will be worth the attempt to that person, helping them recover more complete brain function and stay sober, in addition to other, better known health benefits of smoking cessation."

"In short," said Mon, "prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption is bad for your brain, but a combination of alcohol with smoking is worse."

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