Problemi ed aspetti della terapia farmacologica del deterioramento intellettivo: Problems and aspects of its pharmacological treatment

G. Gainotti, C. Caltagirone, G. Miceli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Many drugs have been used to counteract mental deterioration due to organic brain syndromes, but none of them has been proven able to effectively counteract intellectual impairment. Since controversies about the efficacy of drugs used to improve mental deterioration are due, at least in part, to methodological reasons, such methodological questions are shortly discussed. In the second part of our communication we present briefly some results obtained by studying the effects of two drugs (Gangliosides and Piracetam) considered as capable of reversing the course of mental deterioration. One-hundred and two patients, reported to our Laboratory because of clinical impression of mental impairment were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups, receiving respectively: Gangliosides, Piracetam, or Placebo. Patients were studied before and after treatment by means of the same neuropsychological battery and the rate of improvement was assessed by comparing the scores obtained before and after therapy. Patients treated with Gangliosides obtained a greater improvement than those who received Piracetam, while the latter performed better than the Placebo group. However, statistical comparisons between Gangliosides and Piracetam and between Piracetam and Placebo did not reach the level of significance, and only the Gangliosides - vs. - Placebo comparison was found to be highly significant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)415-422
Number of pages8
JournalActa Medica Romana
Volume14
Issue number5-6
Publication statusPublished - 1976
Externally publishedYes

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