Effects of idebenone on electroencephalograms of patients with cerebrovascular disorders

A daily dose of 90 mg of idebenone was given to nine patients with cerebrovascular disorders to investigate its effects on clinical symptoms and electroencephalograms (EEG). Changes in EEG before and after the administration were compared quantitatively by computer analysis using the wave-form recognition method. Significant increase in frequency in the alpha band (O1) and trends of increased appearance of beta waves, decreased appearance of alpha 1 bands, and lowered amplitude in the alpha 1 and alpha 2 bands were observed after administration of idebenone. The theta waves of 30 microV and over had a significantly diminished maximum amplitude (C3) and a tendency to appear less often. Mean frequency of the EEG and appearance of fast waves apparently increased in the patients showing improvement of the clinical symptoms as compared with those not showing improvement. The results suggested that idebenone improved the EEG in the patients with cerebrovascular disorders, causing changes in EEG similar to those observed with psychostimulants.