title: [Psycho-functional changes in attention and learning under the action of L-acetylcarnitine in 17 young subjects. A pilot study of its use in mental deterioration].
abstract: The aim of the study was the investigation of the ability of L-acetylcarnitine (Acn; 1.5 g daily oral route for 1 month) to enhance some performances requiring a high level of attention and reflex velocity. The sample includes 17 healthy subjects, 8 males and 9 females, 22 to 27 years old; 10 of the subjects practice sports at agonistic level, while 7 have a sedentary life style. Reflexes have been measured, baseline and after 17 and 30 days of Acn administration, through a purposely constructed reflex-meter able to determine the latency (csec) of the reaction to an auditory stimulus. The ability as well as the time of learning was determined, before and after treatment, as the time and the number of errors to get out of the maze of a videogame (the test was also carried out by an untreated control group). Acn seems to induce an enhancement of reflex velocity, with complete annulment of the difference between the dominant and the opposite hand, as well as a significant reduction (3 to 4 times superior to controls) of both the errors and the time with the maze test.
authors.affiliation: I Cattedra di Fisiologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lino
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rusconi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellomonte
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cocuroccia
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011930:Reaction Time; D012984:Software; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine
vernacular_title: Cambiamenti psicofunzionali dello stato di vigilanza e dell'apprendimento sotto l'azione della L-acetilcarnitina in 17 giovani soggetti. Studio pilota per l'impiego nel decadimento mentale.