EFFECTS OF S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE ON COGNITIVE AND VIGILANCE FUNCTIONS IN THE ELDERLY

Forty elderly patients with impaired cognition and vigilance functions associated with primary or secondary organic brain syndrome were treated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) for 2 months. Patients scoring 17 or higher on Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) were excluded from the study. The SAMe dosing schedule was 400 mg intravenously during the first 20 days, and 200 mg intramuscularly plus 400 mg orally twice daily for another 40 days. Examinations were performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric Scale (SCAG) at time 0 (baseline) and on days 20 and 60 of treatment. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in MMSE and SCAG total scores on day 60 versus baseline. Significant improvements were observed in 4 out of 19 items on the SCAG versus baseline on day 20, and in 13 out of 19 items versus baseline on day 60. No adverse side effects were reported.