Selegiline versus oxiracetam in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia

The efficacy and tolerability of the monoamine oxidase B inhibitor selegiline and of the nootropic agent oxiracetam were compared in a single-blind, controlled, parallel study. The trial involved 22 men and 18 women with mild-to-moderate senile and presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type. The treatments were administered for 90 consecutive days as follows: one 10-mg selegiline tablet once daily and one 800-mg oxiracetam tablet twice daily. Efficacy was evaluated by means of a complex battery of neuropsychological tests, administered monthly for three months, starting from baseline. Safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse drug reactions as well as any pathological changes in hematology, blood chemistry, or liver and kidney function, measured at baseline and again at the conclusion of the study. Analysis of the results demonstrates that, at the dosage used, selegiline is more effective than oxiracetam in improving higher cognitive functions and reducing impairment in daily living. In particular, short- and long-term memory, sustained concentration, attention, verbal fluency, and visuospatial abilities were, for the most part, positively affected by selegiline. Gastroenteric and systemic tolerability of both drugs was also very good.