Citation

Argyriou AA, Karanasios P, Makridou A, Vlachou M, Giannakopoulou F, Makris N. Neurodegener. Dis. 2011; 8(3): 146-148.

Affiliation

Department of Neurology, Saint Andrew's State General Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000318084

PMID

20714119

Abstract

To our knowledge, we describe for the first time the case of a male patient with sporadic young-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, most likely attributed to chronic regular cocaine use and abuse. Our case supports the view that cocaine use and abuse may trigger a process of motor neuron degeneration by mechanisms implicating alterations in the neurobiology of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and its receptors.

Language: en