Compulsive pornography use, often referred to as “porn addiction”, has increased increased clinical and research attention due to its parallels with behavioral addictions such as gambling and compulsive internet use. Although pornography consumption itself is not pathological, chronic compulsive use may induce neuroadaptive changes within reward, stress, and executive-control circuits of the brain. This review synthesizes current neuroscientific evidence from neuroimaging, neurochemical, and behavioral research to examine potential neurodegenerative-like changes associated with chronic pornography overuse. The article discusses dopaminergic dysregulation, prefrontal cortex alterations, limbic system sensitization, HPA axis dysregulation, and structural-functional brain changes. While “neurodegeneration” is not observed in the classical sense (as in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease), emerging evidence suggests functional decline and structural alterations consistent with early-stage addiction-related neural remodeling. Limitations and future research directions are addressed.

addiction, dopamine, neuronal atropy, neurodegeneration, cortisol, neuroadaptive

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