| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
From the Department of Neurology (Drs. Bolla and Ricaurte), Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore; and the Unit on Anxiety (Dr. McCann), Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Karen I. Bolla, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, 4940 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224.
Background: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or "Ecstasy") is a popular recreational drug of abuse that is known to damage brain serotonergic neurons in animals and possibly humans. Few functional consequences of MDMA-induced serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxicity have been identified, either in animals or humans. This study sought to determine whether individuals with a history of extensive MDMA use showed evidence of memory impairment, because brain serotonin has been implicated in mnemonic function.
Method: The authors compared 24 abstinent MDMA users and 24 control subjects on several standardized tests of memory, after matching subjects for age, gender, educational level, and vocabulary score (a surrogate of verbal intelligence). The authors also explored correlations between changes in memory function and decrements in CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), which serves as a marker of central 5-HT neural function.
Results: Greater use of MDMA (total milligrams per month) was associated with greater impairment in immediate verbal memory (p < 0.02) and delayed visual memory (p < 0.06). Furthermore, lower vocabulary scores were associated with stronger dose-related effects, with men having greater dose-related deficits than women. Lastly, lower concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA were associated with poorer memory performance.
Conclusion: Abstinent MDMA users have impairment in verbal and visual memory. The extent of memory impairment correlates with the degree of MDMA exposure and the reduction in brain 5-HT, as indexed by CSF 5-HIAA.
Supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants PHS R01 DA06275, DA05707, DA05938, DA10217, and K02 DA00206 (G.A.R.); by National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program support (U.D.M.); and by a General Clinical Research Center grant (M01 RR02719, National Center for Research Resources, NIH) to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD.
Received May 7, 1998. Accepted in final form August 20, 1998.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F Indlekofer, M Piechatzek, M Daamen, C Glasmacher, R Lieb, H Pfister, O Tucha, K. Lange, H. Wittchen, and C. Schutz Reduced memory and attention performance in a population-based sample of young adults with a moderate lifetime use of cannabis, ecstasy and alcohol J Psychopharmacol, July 1, 2009; 23(5): 495 - 509. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. de Sola LLopis, M. Miguelez-Pan, J. Pena-Casanova, S. Poudevida, M. Farre, R. Pacifici, P. Bohm, S. Abanades, A. Verdejo Garcia, K. Langohr, et al. Cognitive performance in recreational ecstasy polydrug users: a two-year follow-up study J Psychopharmacol, July 1, 2008; 22(5): 498 - 510. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Schilt, M. M. L. de Win, M. Koeter, G. Jager, D. J. Korf, W. van den Brink, and B. Schmand Cognition in Novice Ecstasy Users With Minimal Exposure to Other Drugs: A Prospective Cohort Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, June 1, 2007; 64(6): 728 - 736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. B. Quednow, F. Jessen, K.-U. Kuhn, W. Maier, I. Daum, and M. Wagner Memory deficits in abstinent MDMA (ecstasy) users: neuropsychological evidence of frontal dysfunction J Psychopharmacol, May 1, 2006; 20(3): 373 - 384. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Reneman, T. Schilt, M. M. de Win, J. Booij, B. Schmand, W. v. den Brink, and O. Bakker Memory function and serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism in ecstasy (MDMA) users J Psychopharmacol, May 1, 2006; 20(3): 389 - 399. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Bedi and J. Redman Self-reported ecstasy use: the impact of assessment method on dosage estimates in recreational users J Psychopharmacol, May 1, 2006; 20(3): 432 - 436. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Jeng, A. Ramkissoon, T. Parman, and P. G. Wells Prostaglandin H synthase-catalyzed bioactivation of amphetamines to free radical intermediates that cause CNS regional DNA oxidation and nerve terminal degeneration FASEB J, April 1, 2006; 20(6): 638 - 650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. K. Zakzanis and Z. Campbell Memory impairment in now abstinent MDMA users and continued users: A longitudinal follow-up Neurology, March 14, 2006; 66(5): 740 - 741. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. C. Parrott MDMA in humans: factors which affect the neuropsychobiological profiles of recreational ecstasy users, the integrative role of bioenergetic stress J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 147 - 163. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank and J. Daumann The confounding problem of polydrug use in recreational ecstasy/MDMA users: a brief overview J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 188 - 193. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Easton and C. A. Marsden Ecstasy: Are animal data consistent between species and can they translate to humans? J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 194 - 210. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. L. de Win, T. Schilt, L. Reneman, H. Vervaeke, G. Jager, S. Dijkink, J. Booij, and W. van den Brink Ecstasy use and self-reported depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking: a prospective cohort study J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 226 - 235. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Daumann, B. Till, T. Fischermann, M. Rezk, and E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank Intensity dependence of auditory evoked dipole source activity in polydrug ecstasy users: evidence from an 18 months longitudinal study J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 236 - 244. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. T. J. Lamers, A. Bechara, M. Rizzo, and J. G. Ramaekers Cognitive function and mood in MDMA/THC users, THC users and non-drug using controls J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2006; 20(2): 302 - 311. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. P. C. Kuypers and J. G. Ramaekers Transient memory impairment after acute dose of 75mg 3.4-Methylene-dioxymethamphetamine J Psychopharmacol, November 1, 2005; 19(6): 633 - 639. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. C. Parrott Chronic tolerance to recreational MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Ecstasy J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 2005; 19(1): 71 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. R. Green, A. O. Mechan, J. M. Elliott, E. O'Shea, and M. I. Colado The Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") Pharmacol. Rev., September 1, 2003; 55(3): 463 - 508. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.I. Bolla, K. Brown, D. Eldreth, K. Tate, and J.L. Cadet Dose-related neurocognitive effects of marijuana use Neurology, November 12, 2002; 59(9): 1337 - 1343. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Kalant The pharmacology and toxicology of "ecstasy" (MDMA) and related drugs Can. Med. Assoc. J., October 1, 2001; 165(7): 917 - 928. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. J. Croft, A. Klugman, T. Baldeweg, and J. H. Gruzelier Electrophysiological Evidence of Serotonergic Impairment in Long-Term MDMA (""Ecstasy"") Users Am J Psychiatry, October 1, 2001; 158(10): 1687 - 1692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Reneman, J. Lavalaye, B. Schmand, F. A. de Wolff, W. van den Brink, G. J. den Heeten, and J. Booij Cortical Serotonin Transporter Density and Verbal Memory in Individuals Who Stopped Using 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy"): Preliminary Findings Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2001; 58(10): 901 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
U. D. McCann, G. A. Ricaurte, and M. E. Molliver "Ecstasy" and Serotonin Neurotoxicity: New Findings Raise More Questions Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2001; 58(10): 907 - 908. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. C. Fox, A. C. Parrott, and J. J. D. Turner Ecstasy use: cognitive deficits related to dosage rather than self-reported problematic use of the drug J Psychopharmacol, July 1, 2001; 15(4): 273 - 281. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. K. Zakzanis and D. A. Young Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users: A longitudinal investigation Neurology, April 10, 2001; 56(7): 966 - 969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. J. Kish, Y. Furukawa, L. Ang, S. P. Vorce, and K. S. Kalasinsky Striatal serotonin is depleted in brain of a human MDMA (Ecstasy) user Neurology, July 25, 2000; 55(2): 294 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. I. Bolla, F. R. Funderburk, and J. L. Cadet Differential effects of cocaine and cocaine alcohol on neurocognitive performance Neurology, June 27, 2000; 54(12): 2285 - 2292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, J. Daumann, F. Tuchtenhagen, S. Pelz, S. Becker, H.-J. Kunert, B. Fimm, and H. Sass Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, June 1, 2000; 68(6): 719 - 725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 MDMA-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity Linked with Memory Impairment Journal Watch Psychiatry, February 1, 1999; 1999(201): 8 - 8. [Full Text]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
