Short Wave – Science Says Quitting Smoking At Any Age Is Good For The Brain

NPR | Hosts: Emily Kwong & Regina Barber | Guest: Mary Louise Kelly
Release Date: October 17, 2025
(Total run time: ~10 minutes; Content summary excludes ads, intros & outros)

Overview:

In this packed science news roundup, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber are joined by NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly to explore three fast-moving science stories:

• New research on quitting smoking and its positive impact on brain health,
• A creative intervention to support language development in premature babies,
• And the quirky solution to Chicago’s famous “rat hole” animal mystery.

The episode blends evidence-based findings with NPR’s signature warmth and humor, giving listeners practical takeaways and memorable anecdotes.

1. Quitting Smoking: Good for the Brain at Any Age

[02:16–04:23]

Key Points:

• Smoking and Cognitive Decline:
  • There’s a downward trend in cigarette smoking since the 1960s, particularly among those under 40 ([02:19]).
  • A new study in The Lancet Health Longevity Journal reveals that quitting smoking—even in middle or older age—improves cognitive performance ([02:30]).
• Physiology Behind It:
  • Smoking damages small blood vessels in the brain, restricting oxygen flow, which increases cognitive decline and stroke risk ([02:46]).
• Study Details:
  • Epidemiologist Michaela Bloomberg led a multi-country study tracking over 9,000 adult smokers for nearly 20 years ([03:06]).
  • Half quit smoking; the other half did not. Quitting smokers (regardless of age) did better on cognitive tests than those who continued to smoke.
• Broader Health Benefits:
  • Quitting as late as age 75 can extend life expectancy and lower risk of heart disease ([03:39]).
  • Cognitive health seems to follow cardiac health: “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([03:53])
• Limitations & Optimism:
  • Direct link to lower dementia risk isn’t proven, but “cognitive tests are good predictors of dementia.” – summarizing Dr. Neal Benowitz ([04:02])

Notable Quotes:

• “Quitting later in life, it can help your brain.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([03:27])
• “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([03:53])
• “Quitting at any age seems to show a benefit.” – Emily Kwong ([04:02])

2. Supporting Preterm Babies’ Language Development

[04:23–06:57]

Key Points:

• Prematurity & Language Risks:
  • Full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks, but the fetal auditory system is functional by 24 weeks ([04:44]).
  • Preemies (born before 37 weeks) are at higher risk for language development delays, possibly because they miss out on constant exposure to the mother’s voice—instead, they spend time in the noisy NICU ([05:09], [05:21]).
• Sound Intervention:
  • Dr. Melissa Scala (Stanford) and colleagues played recordings of mothers reading Paddington Bear to preemies in the NICU:
    • 160 minutes per night, across a cohort of 46 infants ([05:47]).
  • Babies exposed to their mother’s voices showed more mature white matter in language-associated brain areas ([06:15]).
  • The hospital now encourages all preemie parents to record themselves reading, illustrating the quick impact of this research ([06:48]).
• Limitations & Next Steps:
  • Study was small and short-term; researchers plan larger, longer studies to assess lasting language benefits ([06:30]).
  • Intervention benefits parents emotionally, too—a potential future research angle ([06:57]).

Notable Quotes:

• “The fetal auditory system actually starts to become functional at 24 weeks.” – Emily Kwong ([04:44])
• “I want to listen to my mom for 160 minutes reading me Paddington Bear.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([06:03])
• “They now give all preemie parents free books to read and the chance to record their voices.” – Emily Kwong ([06:48])

3. The Chicago “Rat Hole” Animal Mystery

[07:06–09:26]

Key Points:

• The Urban Legend:
  • A sidewalk in Chicago featured an imprint shaped suspiciously like a rat. The “rat hole” became an internet sensation—so much so that some people held ceremonies and left offerings ([07:14], [07:25]).
• Testing the Evidence:
  • Zoologist Michael Granatosky (U. Tennessee) saw a scientific opportunity: Could the imprint be conclusively identified?
  • His team collected photos and compared the imprint’s proportions to museum specimens: rats, squirrels, mice, muskrats ([08:40]).
• Mystery Solved:
  • Conclusion: The print belonged to a squirrel, not a rat ([09:04]).
• Takeaway:
  • The story illustrates hands-on, crowdsourced science and highlights the fun and accessibility of scientific inquiry ([09:13]).

Notable Quotes:

• “You’re living life offline. We love that for you.” – Regina Barber, gently teasing Mary Louise ([07:17])
• “It’s definitely not a rat. It was a squirrel.” – Regina Barber ([09:04])
• “There’s something to take away here…encourage more people to explore the natural world.” – Emily Kwong ([09:13])

4. Memorable Segments & Quotes

• “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([03:53])
• “I want to listen to my mom for 160 minutes reading me Paddington Bear.” – Mary Louise Kelly ([06:03])
• “You’re living life offline. We love that for you.” – Regina Barber ([07:17])
• “There is science. There’s something to take away here.” – Emily Kwong ([09:13])

Segment Timestamps:

• [02:16] Quitting smoking and the brain
• [04:23] Language development in preemies
• [07:06] Chicago rat/squirrel hole mystery
• [09:13] The joy of accessible science

Tone & Style:

Warm, engaging interplay rich with enthusiasm and humor—a hallmark of Short Wave. The episode balances scientific rigor with relatable storytelling, timely jokes, and genuine curiosity.

Takeaways:

• Quitting Smoking yields tangible benefits for your brain—even if you’re older.
• Early Language Exposure (even via recorded storytime) may help preemies’ brains develop.
• Science is Everywhere—including viral street art—and accessible to all who are curious.

(For additional details or related research, listeners are encouraged to consult the cited journals and follow up on future studies.)