Whilst there was only a limited pool of relatively small trials and a number of different compounds , we found that collectively , both AChEIs ( donepezil and rivastigmine ) and stimulants ( methylpheni date , modafinil , l‐amphetamine sulfate and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate ) offered no significant benefits over placebo on measures of processing speed , working memory , verbal fluency , verbal memory , visuospatial memory or executive functioning
HighlightsCognitive deficits are present in up to 70 % of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).There are no approved treatments for these difficulties .
We examined whether adjunctive pharmacotherapies can improve cognition in MS.Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors offered no significant benefits over placebo .
Stimulant‐based medications offered no significant benefits over placebo .
& NA ; We sought to examine the effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( AChEIs ) and stimulant‐based medications for improving cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .
Cognitive effects of modafinil in patients with multiple sclerosis: A clinical trial.
PURPOSE / OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of modafinil for the treatment of new learning and memory deficits and fatigue in multiple sclerosis . Only 1 previous study in the literature , to our knowledge , examined the effect of modafinil on cognition specifically in persons with multiple sclerosis . RESEARCH METHOD / DESIGN Sixteen patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis ( MS ) and documented new learning impairment completed the study . In a 5-week r and omized , double-blinded , crossover design , participants received either a single daily oral dose of modafinil ( 200 mg ) or placebo for 2 weeks . A 1-week washout period was included between study arms . RESULTS No effect of modafinil was noted on learning and memory performance . Participants taking 200 mg of modafinil showed improvement in 1 of the 2 working memory measures administered , the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III ( WAIS-III ) Letter-Number Sequencing task , as compared with those on placebo . Treatment with modafinil did not have a beneficial effect in reducing self-reported fatigue . No changes were noted on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale or the Fatigue Severity Scale with the treatment of modafinil , as compared with placebo . CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATION S Findings indicate that 200 mg of modafinil has the potential to improve working memory in persons with MS . These findings suggest that modafinil may enhance aspects of cognition in persons with MS and may be an effective adjunct to clinical rehabilitation interventions
Whilst there was only a limited pool of relatively small trials and a number of different compounds , we found that collectively , both AChEIs ( donepezil and rivastigmine ) and stimulants ( methylpheni date , modafinil , l‐amphetamine sulfate and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate ) offered no significant benefits over placebo on measures of processing speed , working memory , verbal fluency , verbal memory , visuospatial memory or executive functioning
HighlightsCognitive deficits are present in up to 70 % of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).There are no approved treatments for these difficulties .
We examined whether adjunctive pharmacotherapies can improve cognition in MS.Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors offered no significant benefits over placebo .
Stimulant‐based medications offered no significant benefits over placebo .
& NA ; We sought to examine the effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( AChEIs ) and stimulant‐based medications for improving cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .