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Impact of Armodafinil on Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-blind Crossover Pilot Study
Bruce J, Hancock L, Roberg B, Brown A, Henkelman E, Lynch S; Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology 25 (3), 107-14 (Sep 2012)
OBJECTIVE: Examine the efficacy of armodafinil in improving cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
BACKGROUND: Many patients with MS experience cognitive difficulties. Armodafinil has shown promise as a cognitive enhancer in other patient populations. No studies have examined whether armodafinil improves cognition in patients with MS.
METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study testing the efficacy of armodafinil in reducing cognitive problems in patients with MS. We randomized 17 patients to receive a dose of lactose placebo about 2 hours before they underwent a neuropsychological testing session. After a week-long washout period, we gave them a single 250-mg dose of armodafinil about 2 hours before testing them a second time. We randomized another 16 patients to receive the active drug first, then the placebo. We excluded 3 of the participants before analyzing the data.
RESULTS: After correcting for multiple comparisons of the 8 neuropsychological dependent measures, we found that the patients had significantly improved delayed memory on a list-learning task after they took armodafinil (P=0.0005), but no improvement on measures of executive function, visual memory, processing speed, or self-reported fatigue.
CONCLUSIONS: Results provide preliminary evidence that armodafinil may improve delayed verbal recall in patients with MS. A larger trial showing enhanced memory among patients taking long-term armodafinil could serve as a foundation for its possible clinical use as a memory enhancer in patients with MS.
Bruce J, Hancock L, Roberg B, Brown A, Henkelman E, Lynch S; Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology 25 (3), 107-14 (Sep 2012)
OBJECTIVE: Examine the efficacy of armodafinil in improving cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
BACKGROUND: Many patients with MS experience cognitive difficulties. Armodafinil has shown promise as a cognitive enhancer in other patient populations. No studies have examined whether armodafinil improves cognition in patients with MS.
METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study testing the efficacy of armodafinil in reducing cognitive problems in patients with MS. We randomized 17 patients to receive a dose of lactose placebo about 2 hours before they underwent a neuropsychological testing session. After a week-long washout period, we gave them a single 250-mg dose of armodafinil about 2 hours before testing them a second time. We randomized another 16 patients to receive the active drug first, then the placebo. We excluded 3 of the participants before analyzing the data.
RESULTS: After correcting for multiple comparisons of the 8 neuropsychological dependent measures, we found that the patients had significantly improved delayed memory on a list-learning task after they took armodafinil (P=0.0005), but no improvement on measures of executive function, visual memory, processing speed, or self-reported fatigue.
CONCLUSIONS: Results provide preliminary evidence that armodafinil may improve delayed verbal recall in patients with MS. A larger trial showing enhanced memory among patients taking long-term armodafinil could serve as a foundation for its possible clinical use as a memory enhancer in patients with MS.