Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Pharmacological enhancing agents targeting cognition in patients with alcohol-induced neurocognitive disorders: A
Nicolaj Mistarz1, Kjeld Andersen1, Anette Søgaard Nielsen1
1Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark.
Abstract:
Debilitating neurocognitive deficits are seen in alcohol use disorders (AUD) and Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome (WKS). These shared characteristics suggest a spectrum of alcohol-induced neurocognitive disorders (AIND). Cognitive pharmacological enhancing agents (CPEA) have been examined in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders, but little is known about the effects of these agents on AINDs. Our aim was to synthesize the evidence for the effectiveness of CPEAs on AINDs. Databases were searched for controlled trials examining CPEAs on AUD, WKS, and alcohol-related dementia (ARD). Eligible studies were included in a qualitative synthesis and a quality assessment was conducted. The search identified 23 studies (4 ≤ ns ≤ 98). Evidence suggests that modafinil may improve executive functions in AUD and ARD, but this effect may only be present in patients with severe deficits. The studies were rated as having a moderate risk of bias. Despite the promising effects of modafinil, small samples and inconsistent evidence deem the results preliminary. More research is warranted examining the effects of transdiagnostic CPEAs on deficits across AINDs.
More Related Videos
07:02A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
05:12Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena