Dr Lawrence Whalley of the University of Aberdeen, who led the research, said the explanation could be that smoking causes oxidative stress - cumulativedamage caused by molecules called "free radicals" - to organs including the brain.
Unfortunately, as grievous as the damage Mr. Hanssen might have done appears to be, even it could pale by comparison with the cumulative effects of eight years of malign neglect towards personnel, information and physical security that was the leitmotif of the Clinton-Gore Administration.