Effects of oxiracetam on cognition, behaviour and activities of daily living in dementia

Objective: To determine the efficacy of oxiracetam in senile dementia. Design: Randomized, double-masked cross-over trial, oxiracetam or placebo. Setting: Referral-based geriatric practice in a community hospital. Patients: Seventeen patients with moderate to severe senile dementia Alzheimer type. Subjects were included if they were stage 3-5 on the Reisberg scale. Interventions: 400 or 800 mg oxiracetam twice daily and matched placebo. Results: Results in the 15 patients who completed the study showed no clinically or statistically significant effect on functional status, behaviour, or cognitive function. There was no toxicity observed. Conclusion: Oxiracetam is unlikely to result in clinically important benefits in demented patients when given in the doses used in this study.