health
Ecstasy drug impact lingers in brain
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 19, 2011
The recreational drug Ecstasy is associated with chronic changes in the brain, says a study published online Dec. 5 in Archives of General Psychiatry.
Researchers used positron emission tomography scans to examine the levels of serotonin 2A receptors in various brain regions of 14 white females, age 18 to 25, who had used Ecstasy. They had not taken the drug in the 90 days before imaging. Serotonin 2A levels also were assessed in 10 women who had never used the drug. The study was limited to females because previous studies showed gender-specific differences in serotonin receptor levels.
Researchers found that women who used Ecstasy had increased levels of serotonin 2A receptors (link). More research is needed to determine the impact of these changes, the study said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/12/19/hlbf1219.htm.
