White matter alterations in chronic MDMA use: Evidence from diffusion tensor imaging and neurofilament light chain blood levels
NeuroImage: Clinical September 19, 2022 Josua Zimmermann, Nicole Friedli, Francesco Bavato et al. 14 citations
Chronic MDMA users show increased fractional anisotropy in white matter tracts, particularly the corpus callosum and corticospinal tracts, with some links to usage intensity. However, blood neurofilament light chain levels did not differ from controls. The absence of reduced fractional anisotropy and elevated NfL—typically seen in conditions with white matter lesions, such as stimulant and ketamine use disorders—suggests MDMA use is not associated with significant white matter damage. Thus, axonal degradation observed in animal models was not replicated in this human sample of 39 chronic users and 39 matched controls.