title: The Story of "Speed" from "Cloud Nine" to Brain Gain.
abstract: The substituted amphetamines have had a checkered medical history intertwined with a sensational cultural history. Mankind's insatiable fascination with speed has led to widespread misuse sometimes with disastrous neurological and psychiatric consequences that may cause a permanent harm but their potential to enhance cognition should not be dismissed or forgotten. Further, smarter research could perhaps still lead to an expanded beneficial role for stimulant use in modern society.
authors.affiliation: The National Hospital, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: andrew.lees@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, North Estonian Regional Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sikk
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Pille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taba
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants
keywords: Amphetamines; Designer drugs; Legal highs; Neuropsychiatric complications; Parkinson's disease; Stimulants