RE: Performance enhancement with selegiline

From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rafal@smigrodzki.org)
Date: Mon Feb 17 2003 - 11:23:57 MST

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    gts wrote:
    > Whatever, Rafal. As I was saying, it is clear that your ego is firmly
    > entrenched in your self-prescribed role as nay-sayer on this subject.
    > The FDA has a less progressive attitude than you, my friend, and I am
    > no fan of the FDA.

    ### Psychoanalysis of my ego doesn't really strengthen your conclusions.

    At least we agree on the FDA.

    ------------------

    >
    > Below is yet *another* positive research finding concerning selegiline
    > (deprenyl). In this double blind controlled study, selegiline was
    > found to improve verbal memory in Alzheimer's patients (we've been
    > discussing Parkinson's here, mostly, but selegiline (deprenyl) has
    > also been found useful in Alzheimer's).

    ### I am all for it. I never denied that deprenyl has beneficial symptomatic
    effects.

    -------------------------

    >
    > Concerning this report below of enhanced verbal memory from selegiline
    > (deprenyl), this is probably a good time for me to mention the most
    > surprising and unusual benefit that I *personally* have experienced
    > from this drug:
    >
    > Immediately, literally on the day of my first 1 mg dose, I noticed a
    > dramatic improvement in my ability to understand the lyrics in music.
    > Lyrics that had previously been lost in the loud background
    > instrumentals suddenly became discernible to me. Popular tunes that I
    > had heard and enjoyed literally hundreds of times over the years on
    > the radio, but without understanding most of the lyrics, suddenly made
    > lyrical sense to me. Moreover my general appreciation of music
    > improved along with my ability to understand the lyrics. This
    > increased ability to appreciate lyrical music was entirely surprising
    > to me. I would guess that this positive effect is related to the
    > enhancement of verbal memory as seen in these Alzheimer's patients:

    ### Good for you! I really have no problem with the promotion of deprenyl as
    a nootropic, since here you present evidence of better quality, a
    double-blind randomized trial.

    Rafal

    >
    > ABSTRACT:
    > L-deprenyl therapy improves verbal memory
    > in amnesic Alzheimer patients.
    >
    > Finali G, Piccirilli M, Oliani C, Piccinin GL.
    >
    > Department of Neurology, Perugia University, Italy.
    > Clin Neuropharmacol 1991 Dec;14(6):523-36
    >
    > ABSTRACT
    >
    > Altered monoaminergic neurotransmission could play an important role
    > in the cognitive dysfunctions typical of dementia of the Alzheimer
    > type (DAT). DAT is not, however, a homogenous phenomenon inasmuch as
    > two forms are distinguishable: early onset (EO) and late onset (LO).
    > Moreover, focal patterns of neuropsychological deterioration fall into
    > various subgroups. According to our hypothesis, DAT patients, who at
    > the onset of the disease mainly manifest memory disorders, also
    > represent a specific subgroup characterized by impaired cortically
    > projecting catecholaminergic pathways. In a 6-month randomized,
    > double-blind, cross-over study versus placebo we analysed the
    > influence of L-deprenyl on the verbal memory of 19 amnesic EO-DAT
    > patients. Verbal memory was assessed by means of the Rey Auditory
    > Verbal Learning Test. The results obtained show significantly better
    > performances for L-deprenyl treated patients in learning and
    > long-term memory skills. We suggest that L-deprenyl, through
    > selective inhibition of MAO-B and by increasing the activity of the
    > catecholaminergic systems, positively influences cognitive functions
    > and behaviour founded on memory efficiency.



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