flunarizine and Memory-Disorders

Our purpose was to study the preventive effect of the calcium channel blocker flunarizine on headache, postural ataxia, and memory deficits occurring during decompression to high altitude in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. After 7-day pretreatment with the study drugs, 20 healthy men were investigated at 490 m and 0.5, 2, 4, and 6 h later at a simulated altitude of 4559 m. Headache severity was evaluated on a 4-point scale. Sway path and anteroposterior and lateral sway were recorded with open and closed eyes by static posturography. Short- and long-term memory was studied by testing the recall of verbal and figural material immediately and 2 h after presentation, respectively. Blood pressure (BP) and arterial oxygen saturation (Sa(O2)) were also assessed. Headache scores showed a trend to be lower in the flunarizine group that was significant after 4 and 6 h. Headache scores expressed as difference from baseline values showed a nonsignificant trend to be lower at 4 and 6 h in subjects treated with flunarizine. Postural stance, memory, BP, and Sa(O2) were similar in both treatment groups. Although the low number of investigated subjects may have prevented the detection of a significant therapeutic effect of flunarizine, the present data do not show that flunarizine is effective for prevention of headache, postural ataxia, and neurocognitive deficits occurring at simulated high altitude.

Topics: Adult; Altitude Sickness; Ataxia; Blood Pressure; Decompression Sickness; Double-Blind Method; Flunarizine; Headache; Humans; Male; Memory Disorders; Oxygen Consumption; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilator Agents

Alternating hemiplegic of childhood is a predominantly sporadic neurodevelopmental syndrome of uncertain etiology, characterized by alternating transient attacks of hemiplegia. Additional features include tonic fits, dystonic posturing, ocular motor abnormalities and deficits in cognitive functioning.. A girl of 7 years-old with alternating hemiplegic of childhood. The first symptoms debut at 17 months of age in the form of lower limb weakness, migraine, nystagmus and hemiplegic crisis alternating both hemibodies. We administrate the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC-IV), the Conners Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II), the Conners scales for parents (CPRS-48) and teachers (CTRS-28) and the Behavior Rating Inventory Executive Function (BRIEF).. In our study we found deficits in sustained attention, reduced speed of information processing, and difficulties in understanding, speaking and working memory. In addition, parents and teachers reported behavioral disturbances, difficulties inhibition capability, in self-control and in regulating emotions.. Deficits neuropsicologicos en la hemiplejia alternante infantil: estudio de un caso.. Introduccion. La hemiplejia alternante infantil es un sindrome del neurodesarrollo de etiologia incierta, caracterizado por la presencia de ataques transitorios de hemiplejia. Las caracteristicas adicionales incluyen crisis epilepticas, distonia, anomalias motoras oculares y deficits en el funcionamiento cognitivo. Caso clinico. Niña de 7 años con hemiplejia alternante infantil. Los primeros sintomas comenzaron a los 17 meses en forma de debilidad en los miembros inferiores, migrañas, nistagmo y crisis hemiplejicas que alternaban ambos hemicuerpos. Se administro la escala de inteligencia de Wechsler para niños IV (WISC-IV) y el Conners Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II), asi como las escalas de Conners para padres (CPRS-48) y profesores (CTRS-28) y el Behavior Rating Inventory Executive Function (BRIEF). Conclusiones. En nuestro estudio encontramos deficits en atencion sostenida, reduccion de la velocidad de procesamiento de la informacion, y dificultades en la comprension, expresion verbal y memoria de trabajo. Ademas, los padres y profesores comunicaron conductas problematicas, y dificultades en la capacidad de inhibicion, en el autocontrol y en la regulacion de emociones.

Topics: Attention; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Comprehension; Emotions; Female; Flunarizine; Hemiplegia; Humans; Memory Disorders; Memory, Short-Term; Mental Processes; Neuroimaging; Neurologic Examination; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychomotor Performance; Severity of Illness Index; Speech Disorders