A multicentre, double-blind, controlled study of piracetam vs placebo in geriatric patients with nonvascular mild-moderate impairment in cognition

84 geriatric patients with nonvascular senile deterioration in cognition were treated with piracetam and placebo in a 22 weeks, multicentre, multiphasic, crossover double-blind study. Piracetam was administered for 4 weeks at a dose of 6 gr/day, and for the successive 4 weeks at 3 gr/day. A multidimensional approach evaluating behavioral-personality changes, attention and memory functions was used to determine the spectrum of drug action. Piracetam appeared better than placebo in a number of items concerning attention, memory, and behavior. Dose of 6 gr/day appeared more active respect to the 3 gr/day dose, which was however able to maintain the benefits obtained in the previous therapeutical phase.