title: The alpha(2) antagonist idazoxan remediates certain attentional and executive dysfunction in patients with dementia of frontal type.
abstract: Abstract The mixed alpha(1)/alpha(2) adrenoceptor agonist clonidine has been shown by us previously to impair certain attentional and executive functions in healthy volunteers. The present investigation examines the effects of the alpha(2) adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan (IDZ) on cognitive function in patients with dementia of frontal type (DFT). Using a placebo-controlled ABBA design, three DFT patients were given two doses of IDZ and tested on a range of computerised tests of attention, memory and executive function. Idazoxan was found to produce dose-dependent improvements in performance, particularly on tests of planning, sustained attention, verbal fluency and episodic memory. In contrast, IDZ produced deficits in performance on a test of spatial working memory. These results suggest that IDZ may be useful as a putative cognitive enhancer, particularly in patients showing a specific pattern of frontal lobe dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Coull
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sahakian
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019329:Idazoxan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D019329:Idazoxan