The Dirty Little Secret About ADD Stimulants and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease unknown or `` idiopathic '' characterized by both movement-related and non-motor related symptoms when brain cells that make tremor, movement stiffness and delay, mood disorders, daytime sleepiness, and neurotransmitter dopamine die Reason for "sex". There is a brainstem area called the substantia nigra where most of these dopamine neurons live. Motor symptoms occur in idiopathic Parkinson's disease and 80% of these neurons are dead. Many environmental chemicals such as pesticides have been implicated in the possibility of initiators of this mysterious death process, but recent research has shown that ADD [attention deficit disorder] therapy with amphetamine stimulants is in Parkinson's disease It suggests that it may be another initiator of nigrocellular death; probably through a mechanism known as excitotoxicity.

For many years, approximately 50 years, amphetamine stimulating compounds have been increasingly prescribed to children diagnosed with ADD [attention deficit disorder] and ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. The number of adults who receive ADD prescriptions has increased in recent decades. While illegal use of amphetamine stimulants for recreation has been shown to lead to brain excitement, controlled prescribed use in ADD and ADHD is caused by controlled dose and titration There is a general wisdom that it is relatively safe to improve cognition without excessive stimulation or “high” experienced by recreational users.

Rodent and primate studies increase levels of the stimulant neurotransmitter chemical glutamine, especially in areas that control motor and motivational / emotional excitement, ie, around the basal ganglia and limbic system Shows this class of drugs. In addition, prolonged exposure leads to loss of markers for the neurotransmitter serotonin [related to mood and depression] and dopamine. In addition, studies in rodents have shown significant cell loss in the upper brainstem, very close to the substantia nigra region rich in dopamine neurons. This is all theoretical and non-clinical, so don't upset the prescribing patient and worry about whether ADD or ADHD patients may develop Parkinson's disease in the future.

However, a recent epidemiological study conducted in California has led to very disturbing conclusions about the safety issues of prescribed amphetamine stimulants. In this study, 64,000 volunteers were asked about the use of amphetamine prescribed for weight loss. Subjects who reported the use of prescribed amphetamine had a 60% increase in the incidence of Parkinson's disease compared to subjects who did not report the use of amphetamine. The authors of this study warn that further studies are needed, but there is certainly a statistical correlation. Correlation is not causal, but given the theoretical risks above, this study has led to a flood of follow-up studies suggesting that prescribed use of these drugs is less secure than originally thought May open the door. I need to wait. However, this author is an educational professional who has a fairly routine view when introducing a child with a suggestive profile of ADD / ADHD to the ADD / ADHD stimulant prescriber community and such prescription professionals In between, the results hope to draw attention.