Prefrontal N-acetylaspartate is strongly associated with memory performance in (abstinent) ecstasy users: preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is known to damage brain serotonin neurons in animals and possibly humans. Because serotonergic damage may adversely affect memory, we compared verbal memory function between MDMA users and MDMA-naïve control subjects and evaluated the relationship between verbal memory function and neuronal dysfunction in the MDMA users.


METHODS
An auditory verbal memory task (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) was used to study eight abstinent MDMA users and seven control subjects. In addition 1H-MRS was used in different brain regions of all MDMA users to measure N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios, a marker for neuronal viability.


RESULTS
The MDMA users recalled significantly fewer words than control subjects on delayed (p =.03) but not immediate recall (p =.08). In MDMA users, delayed memory function was strongly associated with NAA/Cr only in the prefrontal cortex (R(2) =.76, p =.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Greater decrements in memory function predicted lower NAA/Cr levels-and by inference greater neuronal dysfunction-in the prefrontal cortex of MDMA users.
Reneman
L
L
Graduate School of Neurosciences, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Majoie
C B
CB
Schmand
B
B
van den Brink
W
W
den Heeten
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000737:chemistry*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D018490:Serotonin Agents; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine