Long-term neurocognitive side effects of MDMA in recreational ecstasy users following sustained abstinence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) November 19, 2025 Hillary Ung, Gemma Mckeon, Zorica Jokovic et al. 1 citation
A systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether cognitive side effects of recreational MDMA (ecstasy) improve after at least six months of abstinence. Fourteen studies were reviewed; five were included in a meta-analysis of learning and memory. Both current and former MDMA users showed poorer learning and memory than people who never used MDMA (effect sizes of -1.06 and -1.37, respectively). There was no significant difference between current and abstinent users, and longer abstinence did not correlate with cognitive recovery. Evidence for impairments in other cognitive domains was limited. The authors note these conclusions rest on low-quality evidence.