ADHD Drugs Given To Teens Could Lead To Adult Memory Problems

October 22, 2009 6:55 a.m. EST

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Adolescents exposed to amphetamines, including drugs prescribed treat attention disorders, for long periods of time, may develop memory problems as adults, according to new research. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers conducted their study on rats. They said that the animals given the drugs as adolescents fared worse on memory tests than animals given the same drugs as adults.

Their findings could affect the prescribing of drugs like Ritalin, which is derived from amphetamines, for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The lead researcher, psychology professor Joshua Gulley cautioned that more research is needed.

He and his colleagues presented their study at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago on Oct. 21.