The influence of piracetam on actual driving behaviour of elderly subjects

✍ Scribed by W. J. Riedel; M. L. Peters; M. P. J. Van Boxtel; J. F. O'Hanlon

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 138 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(1998110)13:2+<s108::aid-hup55>3.0.co;2-r

✦ Synopsis

A group of 38 elderly (60±80 year) de®cient drivers were examined with regard to their driving ability. Their lanetracking performance during highway driving was measured in real trac. Their postural stability was also measured. They were given a daily dose of 4 . 8 g piracetam or placebo over two separate four-week periods in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Overall, driving performance did not change under the in¯uence of piracetam, although there was a trend towards improvement after 4 weeks of treatment. Postural stability improved during piracetam treatment. A longer treatment period might provide more insight into the hypothesized performance enhancing eects of piracetam. Given the scrutiny with which de®cient performers on the driving tests were selected, the results were considered disappointing.