Neuropsychological Effects of L-Deprenyl in Alzheimerʼs Type Dementia
- 1 April 1990
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Clinical Neuropharmacology
- Vol. 13 (2), 147-163
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00002826-199004000-00004
Abstract
The monoaminergic neurotransmission defect seen in dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) is linked to a known increased activity of type B cerebral monoamine oxidase (MAO-Bs). The use of drugs that are able to block this abnormal activity could therefore be useful in the treatment of some cognitive deficits that characterize DAT. Twenty patients with a clinical diagnosis of DAT and with a slight-moderate mental deterioration were treated with 10 mg/day of L-deprenyl, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, according to a double-blind crossover design vs. placebo. Initial treatment (drug or placebo) was randomly assigned. The patients'' cognitive functions were evaluated at baseline and then after 3 and 6 months of treatment with drug or placebo. The patients crossed over treatment after 3 months, without a washout interval. The results of the study show the higher and statistically significant effects of L-deprenyl on memory and attention that seem to be due to an improved function of the monoaminergic systems involved in the process of neuronal degeneration.This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
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