Cerebral 1H MRS alterations in recreational 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) users
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging October 1, 1999 L. Chang, T. Ernst, C.s. Grob et al. 28 citations
Recreational use of MDMA (ecstasy) may increase glial content in the brain without causing significant neuronal injury. In a comparison of 22 MDMA users and 37 non-users, magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed normal levels of N-acetyl compounds, indicating no major neuronal damage. However, MDMA users had a 16.3% higher concentration of myo-inositol and a 14.1% higher myo-inositol-to-creatine ratio in parietal white matter, with effects linked to cumulative lifetime MDMA dose. These findings suggest that even recreational MDMA exposure may alter brain glial cells.