Research published 17 July in Frontiers in Neuroanatomy revealed the particular brain regions damaged by ketamine addiction.
“This study revealed the lesions in many regions of the brain of ketamine addicts,” the researchers wrote. “These lesions appeared as minute patches in the first year and became larger sites of atrophy by 4 years of addiction.”
Ketamine can be safely administered as an anesthetic under medical supervision. Research has also shown that a single dose of ketamine can restore connections between brain cells damaged by stress and alleviate depression.
However, the drug has downsides. Ketamine is addictive, and prolonged usage can cause brain damage. Because of its psychedelic effects, ketamine has been used as a recreational drug, known as “Special K.”
For the study, the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine the brains of 21 ketamine addicts. Most of the addicts had consumed about 1 gram of ketamine per day for several years.
The researchers found damages to various regions of the brain, including the prefrontal, parietal, occipital, limbic, brainstem, and corpus striatum. This damage was associated with memory deficits and depression.
“Some of these areas were the same as cocaine and ecstasy patient, e.g., frontal, striatum, and limbic,” the researchers wrote. “However, ketamine presented a rather diffuse effect in many other of areas of the brain which might differ from cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.”
