Abstract | OBJECTIVE: BACKGROUND: Many patients with MS experience cognitive difficulties. Armodafinil has shown promise as a cognitive enhancer in other patient populations. No studies have examined whether armodafinil improves cognition in patients with MS. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study testing the efficacy of armodafinil in reducing cognitive problems in patients with MS. We randomized 17 patients to receive a dose of lactose placebo about 2 hours before they underwent a neuropsychological testing session. After a week-long washout period, we gave them a single 250-mg dose of armodafinil about 2 hours before testing them a second time. We randomized another 16 patients to receive the active drug first, then the placebo. We excluded 3 of the participants before analyzing the data. RESULTS: After correcting for multiple comparisons of the 8 neuropsychological dependent measures, we found that the patients had significantly improved delayed memory on a list-learning task after they took armodafinil (P = 0.0005), but no improvement on measures of executive function, visual memory, processing speed, or self-reported fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide preliminary evidence that armodafinil may improve delayed verbal recall in patients with MS. A larger trial showing enhanced memory among patients taking long-term armodafinil could serve as a foundation for its possible clinical use as a memory enhancer in patients with MS.
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Authors | Jared Bruce, Laura Hancock, Brandon Roberg, Amberly Brown, Erik Henkelman, Sharon Lynch |
Journal | Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology
(Cogn Behav Neurol)
Vol. 25
Issue 3
Pg. 107-14
(Sep 2012)
ISSN: 1543-3641 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 22960434
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Benzhydryl Compounds
- Nootropic Agents
- Modafinil
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Topics |
- Adult
- Benzhydryl Compounds
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Cognition
(drug effects)
- Cognition Disorders
(complications, drug therapy)
- Cross-Over Studies
- Double-Blind Method
- Executive Function
(drug effects)
- Fatigue
(complications, drug therapy, psychology)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Memory
(drug effects)
- Middle Aged
- Modafinil
- Multiple Sclerosis
(complications, psychology)
- Neuropsychological Tests
- Nootropic Agents
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Pilot Projects
- Treatment Outcome
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