The alpha2 agonist, clonidine, improves spatial working performance in Parkinson's disease.
Previous work has shown that the dopaminergic defect in Parkinson's disease is involved, to some extent, in the "frontal"-like impairment in spatial working memory and attentional set-shifting functions. We investigated whether an alpha2 agonist, clonidine (0.5 and 2 microg/kg, per os), could alleviate spatial working memory and attentional set-shifting defect in Parkinson's disease patients. We observed that 2 microg/kg clonidine stimulated spatial working memory accuracy, but had no effect on attentional set shifting or visual recognition memory. Clonidine was also effective in stimulating spatial working memory after withdrawal of dopaminergic drugs, and when this was done, its effect was greater in severe Parkinson's disease patients. In contrast, clonidine failed to stimulate visual recognition memory. These results suggest that disrupted activation of alpha2 adrenoceptors may contribute to the impairment of spatial working memory in Parkinson's disease.
Riekkinen
M
M
Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University Hospital and University of Kuopio, Finland.
Jäkälä
P
P
Kejonen
K
K
Riekkinen
P
P
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D003000:Clonidine