RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY OF MINAPRIN E VERSUS PLACEBO ON MEMORY LOSS

Thirty five subjects (age: 45-69 years) with subjective memory loss, w ithout any other neuropsychiatric or somatic disease, were recruited i n a phase II study. This double blind randomized versus placebo contro lled study compared the effects of minaprine (200 mg/d) with placebo, in two parallel groups, during 2 months, on memory, attention and vigi lance. Three psychometric tests were the main criteria of assessment: a standardized battery of memory tests (SM 5), the dual-coding test, t he analysis of choice reaction times (CRT) and the critical flicker fu sion point (CFF). A positive effect of minaprine was detected on words delayed recall (P = 0.028) and immediate recognition of words (p = 0. 049). The global clinical tests (CGI, MacNair scale) were not statisti cally modified. Tolerability of minaprine and placebo were comparable. A positive pharmacodynamic activity on mnemonic performance is thus d emonstrated in favour of minaprine (200 mg/d) in this specific populat ion characterized by a memory complaint. These results would lead to a phase III study in which the main criteria would be global scales in order to confirm the clinical reliability of the present results.