Addiction and Neurodegenerative Disorders

The brain regions and neuronal processes that underlie addiction extensively overlap with those needed for cognitive functions, including learning, memory, and reasoning. Addiction negatively impacts cognitive functions, making it more challenging to maintain abstinence and potentially leading to progression into neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, individuals living with neurodegenerative disorders can engage in behaviors, such as self-medication, due to impaired judgment and impulsivity