MONOAMINE-OXIDASE INHIBITORS, COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Recent data obtained in animals and in humans suggest that both MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitors present cognitive enhancing properties of possibl e interest in the treatment of cognitive disorders. In addition, the r ational for using selegiline as a neuroprotector in Parkinson's diseas e may also be applicable in Alzheimer's disease in which a dramatic in crease in the MAO-B activity has been reported. It seems then worthwil e to investigate the neuroprotective effect of MAOIs in humans and to assess, furthermore, the real therapeutical benefit of their cognitive enhancing properties.