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Does brain damage from amps provide increased resistance to future atropy?

R

RR279

Bluelighter
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Dec 21, 2011
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I've read that habitual cocaine users develop some form of mechanism that helps prevent the degradation of dopamine receptors. Although they obviously suffer more overall damage than someone that never used, they don't suffer from as much as they age in comparison to those that have never used before because of this said mechanism that has been created.

http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=563331

Does anyone know if this mechanism is present in other drugs that act on dopamine receptors, such as amps? It only seems natural that this is just a natural defense the body creates to whatever receptors have been damaged for whatever reason, but perhaps cocaine is involved in some seperate process that allows this. Anyone have any info?
 
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Yes. It's not damage, just down regulation and/or desensitivity.

Not to say bad habits can't --in a sense -- elicit brain damage. For example, hardcore meth addicts have trouble laughing and smiling after 10 years of cession -- why?... Because downregulation is the crux of their new existence.
 
Tussmann said:
Yes. It's not damage, just down regulation and/or desensitivity.

Not to say bad habits can't --in a sense -- elicit brain damage. For example, hardcore meth addicts have trouble laughing and smiling after 10 years of cession -- why?... Because downregulation is the crux of their new existence.
Click to expand...

So their receptors are downregulated for 10 years+? If it's regulation why would they not regulate to normal..?
 
Hmm, I for whatever reason was under the impression that excessive hyperstimulation of dopamine actually caused the sites to go through apoptosis under the added stress. I'll have to do some more research.
 
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Epsilon Alpha said:
Long lasting epigenetic changes
Click to expand...

Do you mind explaining further, or should I continue to think of it as slowly reversible actual changes in what dictates the brain's metabolism/growth/upkeep?(long lasting.. but possibly temporary, in essence, brain damage?). Is that fair? I skimmed the wikipediea on epigenetic, as I know nothing about it
 
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