Impact of armodafinil on cognition in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind crossover pilot study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Examine the efficacy of armodafinil in improving cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

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.

• 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)

Chemical References

• Benzhydryl Compounds
• Nootropic Agents
• Modafinil

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