title: Efficacy of amantadine treatment on symptoms and neurocognitive performance among adolescents following sports-related concussion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of amantadine in the treatment of symptoms and neurocognitive performance in adolescents following sports-related concussion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical sample of 25 male (n = 11) and female (n = 14) adolescent subjects with an age-, sex-, and concussion history-matched group of 25 male (n = 11) and female (n = 14) control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient concussion clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, case-control design. Treatment group consisted of patients treated with 100 mg of amantadine twice daily (200 mg total per day) following a period of rest. Matched controls were evaluated and treated conservatively without medication at the same concussion program prior to the start of the current amantadine protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test computerized neurocognitive test battery and symptom report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results support significantly greater improvements from pre- to posttest in reported symptoms, verbal memory, and reaction time performance for the amantadine group than the matched controls. There were no significant differences for visual memory or visual motor processing speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides empirical support for amantadine as an effective pharmacologic treatment of certain concussion-related cognitive deficits and symptoms in athletes with protracted recovery of more than 3 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA. camice@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Cara Camiolo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kontos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D000547:Amantadine