Abstract
The effects of piracetam (Nootropil®, UCB 6215) on mental functions and on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were investigated in eight patients in the presenile age who displayed symptoms of moderate dementia. The double-blind crossover design included nine measurement occasions, each involving rCBF measurement by the 133-Xe inhalation method, ratings of symptoms of dementia, personality changes, and side effects, and a psychometric investigation. Three investigations were included in each of three treatment periods. The first investigation in a period was made without medication. Then either placebo or piracetam 4.8 g/day or 9.6 g/day was given during four weeks with measurements after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. There were intervals of 4 weeks without medication between the treatment periods. Piracetam had no significant effect on either mental functions or rCBF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dencker, S. J., Lindberg, D.: A controlled double-blind study of piracetam in the treatment of senile dementia. Nord. Psykiatr. Tidskrift 31, 48–52 (1977)
Giurgea, C.: The “nootropic” approach to the integrative activity of the brain. Condition. Reflex 8, 108–115 (1973)
Giurgea, C., Moeyersoons, F. E., Evraerd, A. C.: A Gaba-related hypothesis on the mechanism of action of the antimotion sickness drugs. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. 166, 238–351 (1967)
Giurgea, C., Lefevre, D., Lescrener, C., David-Remacle, M.: Pharmacological protection against hypoxia induced amnesia in rats. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 20, 160–168 (1971)
Giurgea, C., Mouravieff-Lesuisse, F.: Effet acilitateur du piracetam sur un apprentissage répétitif chez le rat. J. Pharmacol. 3, 17–30 (1972)
Gustafson, L.: Psychiatric symptoms in dementia with onset in the presenile period. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. [Suppl.] 257, 7–35 (1975)
Gustafson, L., Risberg, J.: Regional cerebral blood flow related to psychiatric symptoms in dementia with onset in the presenile period. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 50, 516–538 (1974)
Lagergren, K., Levander, S. E.: A double-blind study on the effects of piracetam upon perceptual and psychomotor performance at varied heart rates. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 39, 97–104 (1974)
Mindus, P., Cronholm, B., Levander, S. E.: Does piracetam counteract the ECT-induced memory dysfunction in depressed patients? Arch Psychiatr. Scand. 51, 319–326 (1975)
Mindus, P., Cronholm, B., Levander, S. E., Schalling, D.: Piracetam-induced improvement of mental performance. A controlled study on normally aging individuals. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 54, 150–160 (1976)
Obrist, W. D., Thompson, H. K., Jr., King, C. H., Wang, H. S.: Determination of regional blood flow by inhalation of 133-Xenon. Circ. Res. 20, 124–135 (1967)
Obrist, W. D., Thompson, H. K., Jr., Wang, H. S., Wilkinson, W. E.: Regional blood flow estimated by 133-Xenon inhalation. Stroke 6, 245–256 (1975)
Risberg, J., Ali, Z., Wilson, E. M., Wills, E. L., Halsey, J. H.: Regional cerebral blood flow by 133-Xenon inhalation. Preliminary evaluation of an initial slope index in patients with unstable flow compartments. Stroke 6, 142–148 (1975)
Risberg, J., Maximilian, A. V., Prohovnik, I.: Changes of cortical activity patterns during habituation to a reasoning test. Neuropsychologia 15, 793–798 (1977)
Sara, S. J., Lefevre, D.: Hypoxia-induced amnesia in one-trial learning and pharmacological protection by piracetam. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 25, 32–40 (1972)
Smith, G., Nyman, G. E.: Psychopathologic behaviour in a serial experiment: investigations of neurotic, psychotic, psychopathic and normal subjects (Lunds Universitetsårsskrift, N.F., avd. 2, Bd. 56, nr. 5). Lund: C.W.K. Gleerups 1959
Stegink, A. J.: The clinical use of piracetam, a new nootropic drug. Drug Res. 22, 975–977 (1972)
Wechsler, D.: The measurements and appraisal of adult intelligence, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1958
Wolthuis, O. L.: Experiments with UCB 6215, a drug which enhances acquisition in rats: its effects compared with those of methamphetamine. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 16, 283–297 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gustafson, L., Risberg, J., Johanson, M. et al. Effects of piracetam on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with organic dementia. Psychopharmacology 56, 115–117 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431835
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431835