A controlled trial of piracetam in intellectually impaired patients with Parkinson's disease.
Twenty patients with Parkinson's disease and marked intellectual impairment or dementia participated in a double-blind placebo controlled trial of the nootropic, piracetam. A standardized neurological examination, a neuropsychological test battery, and a functional scale, The Sickness Impact Profile, were completed for all patients. They were then assigned by blind randomization to drug or placebo conditions receiving 3.2 g of piracetam or an identical amount of placebo for 12 weeks. The dose was increased to 4.8 g for an additional 12 weeks. Neurological, psychological, and functional measures were rated as improved, unchanged, or worsened in comparison to baseline performance. Twenty-five percent of the patients did not complete the trial for reasons unrelated to the medication. Although there was a significant improvement on one subtest of the functional scale, no significant effects were demonstrated in cognitive or neurological measures.
Sano
M
M
Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Stern
Y
Y
Marder
K
K
Mayeux
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D010889:Piracetam