A Double Blind Investigation of Piracetam (Nootropil) vs Placebo in Geriatric Memory

Abstract

Fifty-six hospitalized geriatric patients between the ages of 65 and 80 were given piracetam (Nootropil) 2400 mg/day or placebo on a double blind basis over a two month period. Every patient submitted to a battery of psychological tests before and after the two month trial. These tests included the Similarities, Vocabulary, Digit Symbol, and Block Design subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Graham Kendall Memory for Design; Benton Visual Retention; Hooper Visual Organization; Raven Colored Progressive Matrices A, AB, and B; Wechsler Memory Scale A and B; Porteus Maze and Finger Tapping. Patients who were unable to complete this battery were not included in this investigation. In addition, at pretreatment, 4 and 8 weeks, the patient completed a Profiles of Mood States, a Clinical Global Evaluation was done by the investigator, and laboratory determinations were performed. Fifty Patients completed the investigation (25 piracetam, 25 placebo). There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups of patients on all measures utilized except for the Clinical Global Evaluation, where 52% of the patients on piracetam showed minimal improvement versus 25% of the placebo group (P less than 0.05).