ADHD amphetamines cause Parkinson's, new study discovers

Amphetamines are a routine treatment for narcolepsy and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) – but the drugs can cause Parkinson’s, the neurological disease, researchers have revealed this week.
The drugs, including Benzedrine and Dexedrine, increase the risk of Parkinson’s by 60 per cent, say researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.  They made the discovery when they tracked the health of 66,348 people from 1964 – when the average age of the participants was 36 – until 1995.  By then, 1,154 people had developed Parkinson’s, which suggests a 60 per cent increased risk compared to those who didn’t take either drug.
Researchers say that Parkinson’s is an unsuspected reaction to the drugs – something that should concern everyone who takes them, legally or otherwise.
(Source: American Academy of Neurology 63rd annual meeting, Honolulu).