spoonyd Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Heavy use of ecstasy damages memory: study Canadian PressToronto — Long-term use of the popular club drug ecstasy damages "everyday" memory, a pair of Toronto researchers reported Tuesday.The study is the first to follow a group of ecstasy users over time and it shows an erosion in their episodic and prospective memory after a year, said co-author Konstantine Zakzanis, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus.Episodic memory comes into play when, for instance, you try to recall an item from a newscast viewed earlier in the day or relay a story you have recently heard. Prospective memory is the recall you use when you need to remember to do a task, such as set your alarm clock."We don't know whether or not there are any consequences of using it just a few times. But we do know from our study that the more one uses it, the greater probability that you will have some problems in terms of memory," Prof. Zakzanis said.The study adds to a growing body of evidence that ecstasy, which has been blamed for deaths in Canada, takes a neurological toll on users. It was published in Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.Ecstasy is the street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine — also known as MDMA — which providers users with a long lasting euphoric high by stimulating brain activity. "You could almost think of it as a Prozac multiplied by 100," he said, referring to the popular anti-depressant.Late last month two British researchers reported at a meeting of the British Psychological Society that ecstasy use may be linked to damage in the areas of the brain that deal with planning and remembering daily activities.And last summer, a Scottish researcher reported that ecstasy could damage users's body clocks, making them feel permanently jet-lagged.Prof. Zakzanis and his colleague, Donald Young of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, recruited 15 frequent ecstasy users for their study. The participants — ranging in age from 17 to 31 — were predominantly (80 per cent) male. On average, they took ecstasy 2.4 times a month, though some took as many as eight hits a month."There was sort of a threshold," Prof. Zakzanis said. "So once people were getting into about the eight-hits-per-month range, those are the ones who were quite strikingly doing poorly on the test. The ones who weren't doing it as often weren't as bad as those that were."The researchers did not provide the subjects with the drug or ask them to take the drug. "These were people who were doing it long before we came along," Prof. Zakzanis said.Subjects were put through a neuropsychological test at the beginning of the trial and a year later. Each time they were asked to abstain from all drugs for at least two weeks before the evaluation. The researchers tested their blood and urine for drugs to ensure subjects had lived up to the promise.People who use ecstasy often experience sleep deprivation, which can affect cognitive performance. One of the reasons the researchers asked subjects to cleanse their systems of drugs was to ensure they had at least seven nights of adequate sleep before they performed the tests.During one, they were read a short passage of prose and asked to recall as much of it as possible, both immediately and a short time later. They were also shown series of pictures of faces and objects and were later asked to pick the cards they'd seen from a larger group.In a third, an alarm was set to go off in 20 minutes. Participants were told to ask a particular question when the alarm sounded.The subjects were brought back a year later and put through the same battery of tests. In some of the tasks — for instance the ability to remember the details of a passage of prose — participants showed a marked decline in ability, Prof. Zakzanis said."We saw the greatest sort of deficits in that area, story recall it's called," he said. "They have a problem getting that information into their brains."Having longitudinal data from the same set of subjects provides solid evidence of the conclusion, Prof. Zakzanis said. "Because we followed them over a year and we saw that all of them had decreases in their test scores, nobody improved, we could lay a little bit of a safer bet on the fact that ecstasy is probably monkeying around with our serotonin receptors in our brain and therefore our memory."About half the participants were so disturbed by the findings that they swore off ecstasy, Prof. Zakzanis said. That provides the researchers with an ideal opportunity to look at another aspect of the puzzle — "whether these are permanent or reversible damages."Prof. Zakzanis and Mr. Young plan to do a third evaluation on the subjects to look at that question later this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowchaser Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 wasn't Prof. Zakzanis a villian in the old justice league cartoons?------------------we all exhale. . . shadowchaser076@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAZE Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Damn, I'm fuct.If this shit happens after one year, I've been doing it for 7 years.I don't do it nearly as much as I used to.My friend said he saw something on PBS that showed the brain of someone who did E only 1 time and they said there was damage already.Oh well, it's too late for me.Peace,------------------Darrell G. HazePromotions@Gateway.net AOL IM HazeDG13 (201)381-6987Thursdays - NV Lounge and SaciFridays -Sound Factory, EXIT and ChaosSaturdays - The World and EXIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwingep Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Yeah but look at the source...Toronto...Those Canadians have their heads so far up their asses....do I need to go on?- Pete"gocanuks" ------------------------------------------ Upcoming shows:web site...Version 1.06 http://www.naked-edge.com/schwinge.html DJSchwinge@naked-edge.com Kush Kush Kush Kush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dale77 Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Originally posted by darrellg:Damn, I'm fuct.If this shit happens after one year, I've been doing it for 7 years.I don't do it nearly as much as I used to.My friend said he saw something on PBS that showed the brain of someone who did E only 1 time and they said there was damage already.Oh well, it's too late for me.Peace,Wait, what are we talking about?Oh yeah...I think it's too late for a lot of us! ------------------You're only young once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowchaser Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 Originally posted by schwingep:Yeah but look at the source...Toronto...Those Canadians have their heads so far up their asses....do I need to go on?- Pete"gocanuks" what you talkin' aboot?------------------we all exhale. . . shadowchaser076@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior0320 Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 THATS ALL GREAT AND SHIT BUT WHAT OTHER DRUGS ARE THESE KIDS DOING ALSO? IVE BEEN DOING E FOR ALITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND I KNOW MY MIND ISNT WHAT IT WAS WORTH BEFORE I STARTED DROPPING PILLS, BUT I ALSO SMOKE MASS QUANTITIES OF TREES ALSO... DOESNT THAT BURN UP YOUR MEMORY ALSO???????? I BELIEVE MOST OF THIS ARTICLE BUT REALLY I DOUBT THESE PEOPLE THEY "TESTED" WERENT ONLY DOING E!!!!!JUNIOR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesandman Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 In a European study they got the same type of results this past July, thats when I realized it was time to straighten up a little. E Once a month and thats it, the other nights Yellow Jackets and budz, very simular buzz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp3some Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 Dude, heavy use of everythig always damages something.... ------------------Peace, Love & Twilo for Everyone!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
translucent Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 Originally posted by junior0320:THATS ALL GREAT AND SHIT BUT WHAT OTHER DRUGS ARE THESE KIDS DOING ALSO...Actually, this is one of the few truly "controlled" studies I've ever heard about. If you re-read it, they supposedly tested the subjects to ensure that they didn't take any other drugs during the trial.The one thing that the Scottish study didn't factor in is that the reason that the subjects' body clocks might have been out of whack isn't necessarily a direct result of X. I bet most of the subjects took it at night and then had to go about their daily tasks (i.e. work, school) afterwards. I doubt they had the subjects take X in the morning, when most people are used to being awake.------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deenyc22 Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 shit ain't good for ya, thats my insight into this conversation.i hope its reversable somehow, like if you stop for a year or 2, you get your brain back. that would be great.------------------party with a heart on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 I'd be worried, but I can't seem to remember if I've taken it alot.I think I might've but... ------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedup Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 Originally posted by crossy:I'd be worried, but I can't seem to remember if I've taken it alot.I think I might've but... Wait! What was this conversation about again? Shish! I forgot already, Damn that E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickijay Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 well my memory is totally shot but i think it was kind've on its way out b/f i started doing e and i think it was due to the pot smokage....but whatever. i'm happy in my own little world, and just keep in mind - it's never lost....just misplaced. ------------------ Boink like a bunny with spring fever!!!uknj@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandie Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 just EIGHT pills a MONTH??i am FUCT! goodbye fair world . . .and after a YEAR?yeah ok, so my whole life has gone down the tubes.boy, i sound upset huh? guess i cant remember how to be upset . . .but this does remind me - Dean i STILL cant remember WTF i told you to email me about . . . so maybe it IS getting to me luv,brandie------------------ loves2cox@netscape.net AIM: loves2cox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trippintrance64 Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 Um...i began to read it.....but got distracted. -----------------------"Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding, and value of life. A vision, that inspires you to live, and love, on planet earth. Like a priceless jewel, buried in dark layers of soil and stone.... earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home. And experience in this place to visit, and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself...as a Game master.......... AIM: fantom0680A.RRiezgo@verizon.net <----- NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sargyros2000 Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 Dude, I don't need some article to tell me that ecstasy use causes brain damage. The way I've felt since I woke up on Sunday morning was evidence enough that X causes drAiN BraMaGe!!! ------------------"And that is what empower-meant when she said; you'll miss me baby but I'm not going anywhere." - mbd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchid21 Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 i say "what else is new?"------------------ "Luna, thank you so much!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestar Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 I have been doing this shit for almost three years and........wait, what was i talking about...where am I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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