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First Time Users of Ecstasy Risk Brain Damage

Experts at the University of Amsterdam warned over the negative influence ecstasy has on the human brain.

A new study suggested that the drug can cause memory loss even among first time users.

Researchers at the University of Amsterdam included nearly 180 people in the study that evaluated the negative impact of the illegal drug. Participants at the research admitted that they hadn't had used ecstasy before. At the beginning of the research, the experts took brain scans of those included in the study. Moreover, participants at the research had memory tests.

The brain scans and the memory test were repeated 18 months later. 59 of those included in the study had consumed ecstasy since the first memory tests and brain scans. Tests indicated memory loss among those who used the drug.

"We found a decrease in blood circulation in some areas of the brain in young adults who just started to use ecstasy. We also found a relative decrease in verbal memory performance in ecstasy users compared to non-users," stated Maartje de Win, the lead author of the research.

"We do not know if these effects are transient or permanent. Therefore, we cannot conclude that ecstasy, even in small doses, is safe for the brain, and people should be informed of this risk," he added.

The study was presented to those attending the annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America.