Canberra, Friday 14 December 2001
ANU study finds Ecstasy damages memory
A study of ecstasy users in Australia by an ANU academic has confirmed
regular use affects memory. Dr Jeff Ward of the ANU School of Psychology
warns party goers that even when ecstasy is taken recreationally, it can
cause noticeable memory damage.
The ANU study provides evidence for the first time that memory impairment
in MDMA users may be in the entry or "encoding" phase.
Ecstasy or MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine) is a recreational
drug often taken in dance clubs, rave parties and is popular during the
Christmas and New Year party season.
Dr Ward and his colleagues conducted two studies to determine exactly
how memory was impaired and how long impairment lasted after no longer
taking the drug.
The first study of 30 MDMA users revealed new findings on the effects
on memory, which can be impaired in three ways - at the entry, storage
or retrieval stages.
"Our evidence suggests that MDMA users have no difficulty in retrieving
memories once they are learned, the problem lies in learning new material,"
Dr Ward said, "It takes more exposure to new material for them to
learn it."
The researchers were also able to show these differences could not be
accounted for by other likely influences on memory such as other drug
use, the person's sex, anxiety or depression. The second study looked
at MDMA users who had stopped taking the drug for at least two years.
They found that these users' memories were also impaired relative to
non-users and believe the effects may last even longer.
"In non-human primates brain alterations occur up to seven years
after exposure to MDMA," Dr Ward said, "The impairment is definitely
noticeable in contrast to non-ecstasy users."
Contacts: Dr Jeff Ward, Psychology: 6125 4208 or 6249 1090 (after
3pm) or Sean Daly, ANU Reporter: 6125 4171 or 0416 249 100
103/2001
© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002
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