Kilgore Trout
Banned
Taking ecstasy – even in relatively small amounts – can damage memory, scientists have warned.
Worryingly, the memory lapses are similar to those that occur in the early onset of dementia.
Even ten pills a year – less than one a month – caused problems, says the journal Addiction.
They were tested on their memory, learning, brain processing speed and attention at the start of the study and a year on.
At the end of a year, 23 had become regular ecstasy users, having taken between ten and 62 ecstasy pills since the start of the study.
Those who had become regular users showed a clear deterioration in episodic memory in comparison with the others.
This memory details personal experiences, combining information about what happened with when and where – such as remembering not only the last film you saw but who you went with and where you sat.
Lapses in it are seen as an indicator of the first stages of dementia.
Even low numbers of pills still caused memory problems.
Importantly, users of ecstasy, which is also known as MDMA, may not realise their brain is being affected until the damage was done.

Ecstasy tablets are far more damaging than previously thought - and taking just ten can cause brain damage | Mail Online