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 ) .
The effects of amantadine and pemoline on cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND Amantadine hydrochloride and pemoline , both frequently used to treat the fatigue of multiple sclerosis ( MS ) , may also improve attention and other cognitive functions in MS . To our knowledge , these agents have never been compared in a placebo-controlled trial of patients with MS . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of amantadine and pemoline on cognitive functioning in MS . METHODS A total of 45 ambulatory patients with MS and severe fatigue were treated for 6 weeks with amantadine , pemoline , or placebo using a parallel group design . They underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing to determine treatment effects on cognitive functioning . Primary outcome measures were tests of attention ( Digit Span , Trail Making Test , and Symbol Digit Modalities Test ) , verbal memory ( Selective Reminding Test ) , nonverbal memory ( Benton Visual Retention Test ) , and motor speed ( Finger Tapping Test ) . RESULTS Fatigue did not significantly correlate with any of the neuropsychological outcome measures at baseline or after treatment . All three treatment groups improved on tests of attention ( P < .003 ) , verbal memory ( P < .001 ) , and motor speed ( P < .002 ) . There were no significant differences between amantadine , pemoline , and placebo . CONCLUSIONS Cognitive functioning in MS is independent of fatigue . Neither amantadine nor pemoline enhances cognitive performance in MS compared with placebo
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 ) .