Methodology of a controlled clinical study for cerebral aging evaluation.
A multicentre study was planned and executed to evaluate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of cerebral aging. Using 42 health centres, whose comparability of methodology was ensured through a training seminar and an instructional booklet on the psychometric battery of tests employed, some 400 elderly patients aged 60-80 years were enrolled using strict selection criteria. Treatment was run in four phases over 150 days. The first phase, serving as the baseline evaluation, defined through a battery of tests, consisted of 30-day placebo treatment. In the second phase of 45 days, daily treatment with 1500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine was given followed by a psychometric evaluation. For the next 45 days the same drug therapy was employed with a complete psychometric evaluation on the final day. In the last phase of 30 days the placebo was again administered and a final assessment made of the residual benefits of the 90-day treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine. Using this plan made it possible to evaluate the placebo effects, perform cross-study comparisons and demonstrate the effectiveness of the drug treatment.
Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Modena, Italy.
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Vecchi
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Neri
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Cortelloni
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De Vreese
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Sirotti
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Cipolli
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Fabbri
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Zerbini
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design
D000108:Acetylcarnitine