Piracetam reverses hippocampal membrane alterations in Alzheimer's disease- Short communication

The in vitro effects of piracetam treatment on the fluidity of membranes fr om the hippocampus of Alzheimer's Disease patients (AD) and non-demented co ntrols were studied. Hippocampal membranes of AD patients showed a signific ant lower hydrocarbon core fluidity compared with membranes from elderly no n-demented controls. Preincubation with piracetam enhanced the hydrocarbon core fluidity of hippocampal membranes from AD-patients as well as elderly controls in a concentration depending fashion, although the effect was more pronounced for the AD membranes. In the presence of piracetam, the differe nce of the membrane fluidity between AD and control membranes was not longe r apparent.