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