title: Neuropsychological changes in demented patients treated with acetyl-L-carnitine.
abstract: The study was carried out on 24 patients suffering from mild to moderate dementia. The diagnosis of dementia was made according to DMS III criteria. Patients with cerebrovascular pathologies were excluded by using Hachinski Ischaemic Score less than or equal to 4 and computerized tomography parameters. Patients with depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression greater than or equal to 18) were excluded. All the patients, after a wash-out period of two weeks were treated on a simple blind method with acetyl-L-carnitine (No. = 12 patients) and piracetam (12 patients) by intravenous route (two weeks) followed by an oral one for further 10 weeks. A battery of clinical neuropsychological tests was applied to evaluate the cognitive, attentive and behavioural aspects. The results, analysed by non-parametric variance analysis (Friedman Test) show a statistically significant improvement of the behavioural profile, of attention and of psychomotricity in the patients treated with acetyl-L-carnitine. No significant improvement was found in the piracetam group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology 3rd, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinforiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannuccelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine; D010889:Piracetam