Desglycinamide‐(Arg⁸)‐vasopressin in five trials with memory‐disturbed patients

Abstract

A series of five consecutive clinical trials were performed in which the neuropeptide desglycinamide-(Arg*)-vasopressin (DGAVP) was administered to human subjects suffering from cognitive and memory complaints. The patients selected for the study were carefully screened with the aid of neuropsychological assessment procedures. The trials were conducted according to a structured design in which the variables 'dose', 'route of administration', 'treatment schedule', 'diagnostic group', and 'severity of deficit' were varied from trial to trial in order to find optimal conditions for the possible expression of a peptide effect, The results indicate a statistically significant effect of DGAVP on word list learning in patients with mild brain trauma, suggesting that learning performance and memory retrieval are improved after peptide treatment in these patients. Patients with more severe brain trauma did not respond to peptide treatment. Some DGAVP effects, e.g. increased speed of memory search, were observed in patients with age-associated memory deficits.

Rey's verbal learning test: Normative data for 1855 healthy participants aged 24–81 years and the influence of age, sex, education, and mode of presentation

“…The test versions were evaluated in control experiments after which particular words were discarded and replaced by new words. The test versions were eventually shown to be parallel and used in numerous drug studies in which repeated administration of parallel versions of tests is essential (e.g., Hijman et al, 1992). In the present study, we used one of these six parallel versions.…”

Cognition Enhancers in Age-Related Cognitive Decline

“…[71] The way in which memory processes or cognitive functioning has been operationalised differs amongst the studies.…”

“…Recently, stricter criteria for the condition AACD have been published. [17] Other populations which have been studied may be described by: • elderly patients with impaired cognitive function; [29] • elderly patients with pronounced memory problems of unknown origin; [30] • elderly deficient drivers; [31 ,32] • memory-disturbed patients; [33] • elderly patients with mild to moderate memory impairment according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. [34][35][36] These are variations on the same theme, albeit that the first 2 seem to include more severe cases and hence truly constitute the borderline between normal and pathological aging.…”

“…aimed at least at improving the conditions of cognitive impairment or halting cognitive decline.l 6 . 71 Unfortunately, although great progress has been made in our understanding of mechanisms of drug action in the brain, and in our understanding of brain changes in elderly people with cognitive deficits or AD patients, a breakthrough in the treatment of these conditions does not seem to be at hand.…”

Mild Cognitive Impairment: Potential Pharmacological Treatment Options

“…However, the effects of administration of vasopressin and vasopressin neuropeptides on cognition in both demented 155,156 and healthy older populations 63,157,158 are unclear. One study evaluated the potential benefits of vasopressin in older subjects complaining of memory problems 159 . Desglycinamide‐arginine‐vasopressin (DGAVP, a vasopressin neuropeptide) was administered to 12 subjects (aged 48 to 68, mean age 57) who complained of age‐related memory difficulties.…”