Amantadine hydrochloride treatment in olivopontocerebellar atrophy: A long-term follow-up study

The efficacy of amantadine, a dopamine-releasing Abstract and antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor, was evaluated in patients wit h olivopontocerebellar atrophy. By contrast to an untreated control group w hose terminal performance deteriorated on 8 of 8 measurements of reaction t ime and movement time, patients treated with amantadine for a mean duration of over 40 months had improved performances in 1 of 4 reaction time measur ements and in 3 of 4 movement time measurements and remained stable on the others. These results demonstrate long-term benefits of amantadine in olivo pontocerebellar atrophy-induced deficits of movement initiation and movemen t completion.