Amphetamines can cause memory loss?

Feared because of the serious accidents they have caused for decades, amphetamines - known both as nervous system stimulants and appetite suppressants - are nevertheless still used.

They are particularly prescribed to some "hyperactive" children. According to the recent annual convention of the American Society of Neurosciences, use of amphetamines at high doses, as part of a drug may cause memory loss. And that happens years after stopping taking them.

This is clear from a U.S. study conducted in rats. The team of Professor Joshuah Gulley (Illinois) had ingested amphetamines in rodents which age corresponded to the end of human adolescence.

Now, as adults, animals show significant memory loss. "Adolescence is a period for brain development, and at that age, exposure to drugs can have far-reaching consequences," explains Professor Gulley. "Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the effects of amphetamine on cognitive function and these effects may persist well after stopping taking the drugs."

Should we be afraid of amphetamines, in the case of hyperactivity treatment? The doses administered to rodents were high, representing more that can consume a teenager who takes drugs. But further studies will be necessary to extrapolate these results to humans.

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