Characterization of the CNS Effects of Naftidrofuryl (Praxilène^®) by Quantitative EEG and Functional MRI: A Study in Healthy Elderly Subjects

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a single and a repeated (5 days) administration of naftidrofuryl, a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor inhibitor having neuroprotective properties, on functional brain physiology in male healthy elderly subjects, using quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twelve subjects aged 60 ± 3.8 years completed the quantitative EEG study, where the effects of 400 and 600 mg were assessed, and 12 other subjects (aged 56 ± 4.7 years) completed the fMRI study, where the effect of 400 mg was assessed on the brain activation induced by the continuous performance test (CPT). Naftidrofuryl induced a transient reduction in alpha activity followed by a specific synchronisation of the 9.5- to 11-Hz EEG activity most pronounced after repeated administration. Such regimen also increased the CPT-induced brain activation visualized by way of fMRI. The results of the present study can be interpreted at the functional level that naftidrofuryl induced an improved level of vigilance or an increased capacity of alertness in healthy elderly subjects.

Possibilities of using naftidrofuryl in the therapy of cerebrovascular diseases: Literature review and the authors’ observations

“…Установлено, что те-рапия нафтидрофурилом может замедлять прогрессирова-ние сосудистой деменции, при этом по сравнению с пла-цебо доза нафтидрофурила 400 мг оказалась столь же эф-фективной, как и доза 600 мг [35]. Нафтидрофурил инду-цирует улучшение сна (уменьшая бессоницу) и внимание у здоровых пожилых пациентов, сохраняя таким образом когнитивный потенциал [36]. В 2011 г. был опубликован Кохрановский обзор, по-священный эффективности и безопасности нафтидрофури-ла при деменции [37].…”