COGNITIVE IMPROVEMENT DURING TOLCAPONE TREATMENT IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tolcapone, a reve rsible, selective inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, on the co gnitive functions of eight patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. They underwent neuropsychological and. motor assessment at baseline a nd were reevaluated after 6 months. During this period, they received Tolcapone three times daily, while the L-dopa dosage was progressively reduced. Significant improvements were observed in the attentional ta sk, auditory-verbal shortterm memory, visuo-spatial recall, constructi onal praxia and motor symptoms. These data suggest that treatment with Tolcapone, in combination with L-dopa therapy, may determine ii signi ficant improvement in cognitive resources of patients with advanced Pa rkinson's disease.