University of Toronto
4 papers in the library · 285 citations · publishing 2001-2007
Neurology April 10, 2001 Konstantine K. Zakzanis, Donald A. Young 122 citations
Over one year, fifteen people who continued using MDMA showed a progressive decline in immediate and delayed recall on memory tests, even after being abstinent for two weeks at both the initial and follow-up assessments. The findings suggest that ongoing MDMA use is linked to worsening memory function.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental September 25, 2007 Konstantine K. Zakzanis, Zachariah Campbell, Diana Jovanovski 87 citations
A meta-analysis of studies on MDMA users found small-to-medium cognitive impairments across all tested domains, with learning and memory most affected. Greater lifetime MDMA consumption was linked to worse performance on attention, concentration, learning, and memory tasks.
Neurology March 13, 2006 Konstantine K. Zakzanis, Zachariah Campbell 54 citations
Continued use of MDMA (ecstasy) is associated with further declines in memory ability over a two-year period. Among fifteen participants tested repeatedly, those who continued using MDMA showed worsening memory performance, while those who stopped using MDMA either improved on several memory measures or maintained their previous performance. This suggests that the cognitive impairments linked to MDMA's neurotoxic effects may be partially reversible upon cessation of use.
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry January 1, 2003 Konstantine K. Zakzanis, Donald A. Young, Zachariah Campbell 22 citations
Repeated recreational use of MDMA (Ecstasy) is linked to lasting impairments in explicit memory. In this study, 15 abstinent MDMA users and 17 matched controls completed tests of memory and vocabulary. MDMA users showed deficits in episodic prospective memory—remembering to perform future tasks—with medium to large differences on time-based and event-based subtests. The ability to recall a future appointment appeared related to how often and how many times MDMA had been used. Further research is needed to explore the neurological basis of these deficits, particularly the role of serotonin.