Long-term neuropsychological effects of ecstasy in middle-aged ecstasy/polydrug users.
BACKGROUND
Studies reporting ecstasy-induced serotonin-toxicity and (neuro)psychological dysfunctions have been conducted in young adults. Little is known about ecstasy effects later in life, when serotonin levels and cognition decrease as a consequence of normal ageing.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess whether harmful effects of ecstasy only add to or also interact with age-related neuropsychological decline.


METHODS
Attention, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial ability, self-reported depression, sensation-seeking and impulsivity were assessed in middle-aged moderate to heavy ecstasy/polydrug users (n = 17) and compared with none or very mild ecstasy using polydrug users (matched for age, gender, intelligence and other drugs; n = 16) and a group of drug-naive controls (n = 20).


RESULTS
Moderate to heavy ecstasy/polydrug users performed significantly worse on a verbal memory task than none or very mild ecstasy using polydrug users and drug naives. Moderate and heavy ecstasy/polydrug users also differed significantly from drug-naives on measures of depression, sensation-seeking and impulsivity but not from none or very mild ecstasy-using polydrug users.


CONCLUSIONS
This study in middle-aged ecstasy/polydrug users replicated findings of studies in younger ecstasy users, showing a harmful effect of ecstasy on verbal memory. There was no clear support for an interaction between harmful effects of ecstasy use and age-related memory decline or mid-life depression.
Schilt
Thelma
T
Department of Psychonomics, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.schilt@uva.nl
Koeter
Maarten W J
MW
Smal
Johan P
JP
Gouwetor
Mathilde N
MN
van den Brink
Wim
W
Schmand
Ben
B
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine