Led by Dr Daniel Fatovich, the specialists believe patients may develop cerebral abnormalities before physical symptoms such as memory loss and erratic behaviour appear.

The RPH team is using MRI scans to determine the damage caused to the brain by amphetamine abuse / Image: Istockphoto

The study involves scanning amphetamine users for changes and abnormalities in the brain structure.

“Past reports have revealed incidents of brain damage occurring as a result of inflamed blood vessels in an around the brain,” says Dr Fatovich.

“But our study is not just looking for inflammation of the blood vessels.   We're looking for shrinking in parts of the brain and other non specific abnormalities, something that has never really been done before.”

Dr Fatovich says initial Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans on patients reveal changes in some patient’s brain structure.

“(Amphetamine use) does seem to cause impairment with memory, judgement and behavioural disturbances.  This could be associated with actual structural changes to the brain, especially those parts associated with memory,” he says.

“We've found some people with abnormalities on their MRI, but it’s too early to tell if they’re caused directly by amphetamine use.”

He says the results of the studies could be used to treat patients and create a greater awareness about the dangers of amphetamines among users.

“If you tell a patient they have developed a brain abnormality from using amphetamines, that might help sway them towards changing their lifestyle,” he says.

“And if there is an undetected abnormality, the potential is there for it to get worse.  Patients would be seen by neurologists earlier (and) have the effects minimised.”

A small group of patients is participating in the research and Dr Fatovich is confident more volunteers will become involved.

“We tell them our research is aimed at studying the effects of amphetamines on the brain, and they virtually always stop and say, ‘doc, it is damaging my brain?’” he says.

“All the patients we approach for the study are incredibly keen to take part.”

In the future, Dr Fatovich wants to expand his team’s research to include testing for functional abnormalities.

“Right now we are concentrating on structure but there are techniques to test for functional abnormalities also.  We will continue enrolling patients and reviewing our results.”

Comments (1)

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written by Ed Lister, November 05, 2009

It it pertinent to point out here that amphetamines are not limited to the illicit recreational kind (the first thing that comes to mind here is obviously the media's favourite, methylamphetamine; ICE!..) but also encompass the range of drugs we prescribe to our children to 'treat' afflictions such as ADHD which include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate amongst others.

Are we going to tell these children to change their lifestyles, that is, not take the medication prescribed to them by doctors?