For the very first time it has been shown that experimenting with even small amounts of the recreational drug ecstasy (known chemically as MDMA) can cause harm to the brain, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Research findings centered on MDMA, the main ingredient of ecstasy, found that the neurotoxic effects of the drug lead to small changes in cell composition and decreased blood flow in some brain regions. "We found a decrease in blood circulation in some areas of the brain in young adults who just started to use ecstasy," says Maartje de Win, radiology resident at the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Ecstasy, a stimulant and psychedelic, homes in on serotonin dependent neurons that use serotonin to manage mood and memory. After comparing 59 first-time ecstasy users with a control group over an 18-month period, the researchers found that ecstasy use did in fact adversely affect these serotonin dependent brain processes. "We found a relative decrease in verbal memory performance in ecstasy users compared to non-users," said de Win.
While the researchers are yet to link the long-term effects of ecstasy - depression, confusion, insomnia, anxiety and poor memory - with short-term use, they cannot rule out the possibility. "We do not know if these effects are transient or permanent," says de Win. "Therefore, we cannot conclude that ecstasy, even in small doses, is safe for the brain, and people should be informed of this risk."
Interestingly, in 2004, a National Institute on Drug Abuse survey showed that nearly half-a-million in the United States aged 12 and over had used ecstasy within the last 30 days. A further survey in 2005 showed that 5 percent of all American 12th graders had taken the drug at least once. Based on these figures, ecstasy related brain damage among American children and adolescents will one day rival brain injuries sustained by this group while partaking in sporting activities.
Source: Radiological Society of North America
