Effect of nimodipine on memory after cerebral infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies indicate widespread memory impairment in patients with stroke in the early post-ictal stage. Nimodipine may have psychopharmacological properties and may improve memory. We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial to determine whether nimodipine given 7-14 days after cerebral infarction improved memory.


METHODS
One hundred patients with acute cerebral infarction were consecutively enrolled between D7 to D14. After stratification, patients were randomized to receive oral nimodipine 90 mg daily for 12 weeks, or no drug. Independent assessors administered Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation (FOME) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Patients receiving nimodipine showed greater improvement in FOME mean scores at 12 weeks (P=0.0334), and also in FOME score change across time (P=0.0283). Patients with severe disability who received nimodipine also showed greater MMSE score change across time (P=0.0495).


CONCLUSIONS
Nimodipine given 7-14 days after cerebral infarction for 3 months results in memory improvement.
Medical & Geriatric Unit, Shatin Hospital, NT, Hong Kong.
K H
KH
Sze
T C
TC
Sim
E
E
Wong
S
S
Cheng
J
J
Woo
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine