A research team has found that electronic cigarettes, often targeted to youth and pregnant women, produce a stress response in neural stem cells, which are critical cells in the brain.

“Their brains are in a critical developmental stage,” said Talbot, the director of the UCR Stem Cell Center. “Nicotine exposure during prenatal or adolescent development can affect the brain in multiple ways that may impair memory, learning, and cognition. Furthermore, addiction and dependence on nicotine in youth are pressing concerns. It’s worth stressing that it is nicotine that is doing damage to neural stem cells and their mitochondria. We should be concerned about this, given that nicotine is now widely available in ECs  (Electronic cigarettes) and their refill fluids.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190701144416.htm