Older news items (pre-2010) brought over from the old website
Ecstasy can harm the brains of first-time users
Ecstasy targets neurons in the brain that use serotonin to communicate. Previous studies have found that long-term or heavy ecstasy use can damage these neurons and cause depression, anxiety, confusion, difficulty sleeping and decrease in memory. Now research into the effects of low doses on first-time users has revealed a decrease in blood circulation in some areas of the brain, along with a relative decrease in verbal memory performance in ecstasy users compared to non-users.
De Win, M. et al. 2006. Ecstasy: Is It Safe for the Brain? First Prospective Study on Effects of Low Doses of Ecstasy on the Brain in New Ecstasy Users, Using a Combination of Advanced MR Imaging Techniques and [123I]ß-CIT SPECT. Presented on November 27 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/rson-ech112106.php
International survey finds Ecstasy use affects long-term memory
An international web-based survey of Ecstasy users and non-drug users found that those who regularly took ecstasy suffered from mainly long-term memory difficulties, and that they were 23% more likely to report problems with remembering things than non-users (14% more likely compared to those who had never taken Ecstasy, but had taken other drugs). Those who regularly used cannabis reported up to 20% more memory problems than non-users, and their memory problems mainly involved short-term memory. The Ecstasy users also made 21% more errors on the questionnaire form than non-ecstasy users and 29% more mistakes than people who did not take drugs at all. The study involved 763 people, from which 81 'typical' ecstasy users who had taken the drug at least ten times were selected for closer investigation. There were no significant differences between genders.
[367] Rodgers, J., Buchanan T., Scholey A. B., Heffernan T. M., Ling J., & Parrott A. C.
(2003). Patterns of Drug Use and the Influence of Gender on Self-Reports of Memory Ability in Ecstasy Users: A Web-Based Study.
J Psychopharmacol. 17(4), 389 - 396.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-01/uonu-eam011304.php
Ecstasy may cause permanent memory damage
A comparison of memory performance in recent users of the drug Ecstasy, ex-users, and those who have never taken the drug, indicates Ecstasy may cause permanent damage to cognitive function. It appears that ecstasy damages mechanisms associated with serotonin, particularly in an area of the brain linked to memory.
[1022] Reneman, L., Lavalaye J., Schmand B., de Wolff F. A., van den Brink W., den Heeten G. J., et al.
(2001). Cortical Serotonin Transporter Density and Verbal Memory in Individuals Who Stopped Using 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy"): Preliminary Findings.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 58(10), 901 - 906.
http://tinyurl.com/ix9f
Researchers have isolated Ecstasy by-product believed to cause some of the brain damage associated with the drug
Researchers in Spain have isolated for the first time a by-product of the illicit drug Ecstasy that is believed to cause some of the brain damage associated with the drug. They believe their finding will help them measure, with greater precision, the long-term neurotoxicity of Ecstasy in human users.
[780] Segura, J., de La Torre R., Segura M., Ortuño J., Farré M., McLure J. A., et al.
(2001). 3,4-Dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA). A major in vivo 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) metabolite in humans.
Chemical Research in Toxicology. 14(9), 1203 - 1208.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-08/acs-ecm081301.php
Use of ecstasy during pregnancy may produce learning and memory impairments in child
Researchers today reported the first evidence that a mother’s use of MDMA (ecstasy) during pregnancy may result in specific types of long-term learning and memory impairments in her offspring.
The research was conducted by scientists from Children’s Hospital Research Foundation and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, on rats. It appears the damage to offspring occurs only if the drug is taken during a particular critical period of pregnancy.
[1418] Broening, H. W., Morford LR. L., Inman-Wood S. L., Fukumura M., & Vorhees C. V.
(2001). 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy)-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments Depend on the Age of Exposure during Early Development.
J. Neurosci.. 21(9), 3228 - 3235.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-04/NIoD-Rfet-2904101.php
Long-term use of ecstasy may result in memory impairment in specific areas
A year-long study of 15 ecstasy users, ranging in age from 17 to 31, suggests that long-term use of ecstasy may result in memory impairment in specific areas, such as the ability to recall a short passage of prose being read out immediately and after a delay (this ability declined by approximately 50% between the first and second assessments).
[2386] Zakzanis, K. K., & Young D. A.
(2001). Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA (“Ecstasy”) users: A longitudinal investigation.
Neurology. 56(7), 966 - 969.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-04/AAoN-Sfle-0904101.php