EEG brain mapping and psychometry in age-associated memory impairment after acute and 2-week infusions with the hemoderivative Actovegin: double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

Abstract

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the encephalotropic and psychotropic effects of Actovegin--a protein-free metabolically active hemoderivative improving oxygen and glucose utilization--were investigated in age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) patients, utilizing EEG brain mapping, psychometric and psychophysiological analyses. Each patient had a treatment of 2 weeks with 250 ml 20% Actovegin and 250 ml placebo daily with an interval of 3 weeks in between (the order of drugs sequence was randomized). Pharmacodynamic evaluations were carried out 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the administration of one single infusion on day 1 (acute effect), at 0 h on day 15 (subacute effect) as well as 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after one additional superimposed infusion on day 15 (superimposed effect). EEG brain mapping demonstrated that Actovegin exerted a significant action on the human brain function as compared with placebo characterized by a decrease of delta and theta, an increase of alpha-adjacent slow beta, a decrease of fast beta, an acceleration of the centroid of the delta/theta and alpha activity, a slowing of the beta centroid and an increase of the centroid of the total activity. Topographically the encephalotropic effects were mostly pronounced in the parietal, frontocentral and temporooccipital regions. These changes are indicative of an improvement of vigilance which was proven also by psychometric investigations at the behavioral level. Actovegin improved the noopsyche mostly in regard to attention, memory and rigidity/perseveration measures. In regard to the thymopsyche an improvement was noted in mood, affectivity, well-being and sedation. Psychophysiological evaluations demonstrated an increase in CFF, skin conductance, pupillary diameter and shortening of the latency and augmentation of the amplitude of the pupillary response. Time-efficacy calculations exhibited more effect after subacute than acute administration with the pharmacodynamic maximum in the 4th h after the superimposed dose. Evaluations of pulse, blood pressure and side effects demonstrated a very good tolerability of the drug. Our present neurophysiological, psychometric and psychophysiological findings confirm earlier results obtained in elderlies with similar methodology.