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Stimulant drug affects men more than women By Jane Kirby 08 April 2006 Amphetamines can have up to three times the effect on men as women, according to research out today. A US study found that men's brains showed far more dopamine than women's when they took the drug. Dopamine is a chemical in the central nervous system which is crucial for movement and also creates feelings of enjoyment. Users say it makes them feel more confident, have more energy and feel more sociable. Shortages of it are linked to Parkinson's disease, memory loss, depression and other mental illnesses. The scientists behind the study hope their findings will lead to more effective treatments for amphetamine abuse and neurological diseases. Gary Wand, a professor of endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland, led the study. He said: "These appear to be the first clinical studies whose results may help explain why we see a greater number of men abusing amphetamines than women." Mice have been tested before for the effects of amphetamines, but Prof Wand said this was the first human test of such gender differences. A total of 43 people - 28 men and 15 women aged 18 to 29 - were examined for the study. As well as measuring dopamine levels in the brain, the participants were asked to verbally rate their experiences. They rated positive effects like a high rush and liking for the drug as well as negative ones such as anxiety, dizziness, dry mouth and distrust of others. The responses from men were "significantly higher" for all categories except dizziness, where women rated higher. "The fact that the subjective tests supported the biological ones further supports the hypothesis that men exhibit a higher response to amphetamines than women," Prof Wand said. He added that he hopes the findings will help researchers learn more about the sexual differences relating to other diseases such as Parkinson's, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and Tourette Syndrome. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn