The effects of acute and repeated doses of moclobemide on psychomotor performance and cognitive function in healthy elderly volunteers

Abstract

The effects of moclobemide, a new selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor, on cognitive function and psychomotor performance were measured in 12 healthy elderly male volunteers (with a mean age of 72.5 years). Subjects received moclobemide 200 mg, amitriptyline (positive internal control) 25 mg or placebo twice daily and were assessed on a battery of psychometric tests on the mornings following the first (acute) day and seventh (sub-chronic) day. The tests were: Choice Reaction Time; Tracking; Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold; Memory Scanning; Continuous Attention Task; the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire and a Visual Line Analogue Rating Scale. The results show that amitriptyline produced impairment of cognitive and psychomotor functions. Moclobemide, however, did not disrupt sleep or cause daytime sedation, and remained neutral in the assessment of behavioural toxicity.

The Effects of Moclobemide on Autonomic and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Volunteers

“…The present study indicates that moclobemide diminishes subjective feelings of tiredness but does not influence cognitive functions such as vigilance, choice reaction, memory, and psychomotor coordination when given subchronically to healthy young volunteers. Our findings are in accordance with a trial investigating the effects of moclobemide in elderly volunteers [13]. Saletu and coworkers previously demonstrated drug-induced cognitive improvement in two trials with 10 and 12 healthy normal volunteers, respectively, by means of the same psychometric test variables used in the present study Original Paper [20,21].…”

Acute Alertness-Promoting Effects of a Novel Histamine Subtype-3 Receptor Inverse Agonist in Healthy Sleep-Deprived Male Volunteers

“…CRT is a widely used measure within psychopharmacological research and is sensitive to a range of different psychotropic agents. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 …”

“…CRT is a widely used measure within psychopharmacological research and is sensitive to a range of different psychotropic agents. [15][16][17][18] RViP. The RVIP task assesses the performance of visual attention mechanisms in maintaining vigilance regarding periodically occurring events.…”

Cognitive performance in elderly subjects after a single dose of befloxatone, a new reversible selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitor*

“…Qualitative and qualitative changes in drug effects and tolerability may occur in elderly patients as a result of age-related alterations in cognitive functioning or sensitivity to psychoactive drugs (e.g., anticholinergic and antidepressant agents), or to metabolic and pharmacokinetic alterations (lower clearance rate, leading to drug accumulation). 22 Indeed, four of the 12 elderly subjects (mean age, 68.2 yrs) who completed the study had diminished plasma creatinine clearance levels (30 ml/min to 54 mUmin).…”