title: An explorative study regarding the effect of l-deprenyl on cognitive and functional recovery in patients after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selegiline (l-deprenyl) is a selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor that has been shown to have neurotrophic and anti-apoptotic properties and to protect neurons in different experimental models of cerebral ischaemia. The aim of this explorative study was to investigate whether selegiline could enhance cognitive and functional recovery in stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized controlled study in which patients enrolled within two weeks of stroke underwent a clinical and functional evaluation and a neuropsychological assessment. The patients were given selegiline (10mg/day) or matched placebo once a day for six weeks in addition to standard rehabilitation care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 137 stroke survivors, 47 patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to the Study Group (n=23) or the Control Group (n=24). The statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in most neuropsychological tests after two and six weeks in the study group; these improvements were not replicated in the control group. The between-group analysis revealed that the domains of attention and executive functions benefited most from the drug treatment. With regard to functional status, comparison of clinical scores at admission and discharge showed a statistically significant enhancement in both groups without statistically significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that selegiline administered in the subacute phase can promote cognitive functioning in stroke patients. Further studies will elucidate whether and how this enhancement can impact on functional recovery in the short and in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via Atinense, 18-86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy. Electronic address: bartolomichelangelo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolo
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via Atinense, 18-86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zucchella
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via Atinense, 18-86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Via Mondino, 2-27100 Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Bassi, 21-27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandrini
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via Atinense, 18-86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy; Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology "Sapienza" University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica, 79-04100 Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012642:Selegiline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012642:Selegiline
keywords: Cognitive recovery; Pharmacological agents; Rehabilitation; Selegiline; Stroke; l-Deprenyl