Related Experiment Videos
Can cocaine abuse cause parkinsonism?
V P Dhopesh1, P M Yagnik, W W Weddington
1Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
The American Journal on Addictions
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Chronic heavy cocaine abuse does not appear to cause parkinsonism. A study comparing cocaine abusers to controls found no significant difference in parkinsonian signs, suggesting dopamine deficiency in abuse does not lead to Parkinson
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Dopamine deficiency is a known factor in both Parkinson's disease and chronic cocaine abuse.
- The potential link between cocaine abuse and the development of parkinsonian signs requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether chronic heavy cocaine abuse is associated with the development of parkinsonian signs.
- To compare neurological examination scores between chronic cocaine abusers and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Fifty male patients with a history of chronic heavy cocaine abuse were assessed.
- Participants were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson Disease Scale (UPDS).
- Scores were compared to those of 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects without a history of cocaine abuse.
Main Results:
- The mean UPDS score for cocaine abusers was 0.08 +/- 0.28 (range: 0-1).
- The mean UPDS score for control subjects was 0.15 +/- 0.49 (range: 0-3).
- There was no statistically significant difference in UPDS scores between the two groups (P = 0.5).
Conclusions:
- This study suggests that chronic heavy cocaine abuse does not lead to the development of parkinsonism.
- The findings indicate that dopamine deficiency associated with cocaine abuse does not manifest as parkinsonian symptoms.