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A comparison of the effects of olanzapine, haloperidol and placebo on cognitive and psychomotor functions in healthy elderly volunteers

N. Taylor

Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Lilly Research Centre, Windlesham, Surrey

K. Wesnes

Cognitive Drug Research Ltd, Priory Court, Reading, UK.

A. Wood

Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Lilly Research Centre, Windlesham, Surrey

The cognitive and psychomotor effects of olanzapine (3 mg) were compared with haloperidol (3 mg) and placebo in a double-blind, cross-over study. Fourteen healthy elderly volunteers (> 65 years) were randomized to receive once daily medication for 4 days with a 16-day interval between treatment periods. Assessments of attention, memory and motor control were made prior to dosing on each day, at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing on days 1 and 4, and at 24 and 48 h following the last dose. On day 1, detectable impairment was observed at all time points in both groups. On day 4, haloperidol treated subjects showed increased impairment compared with day 1 and this was sustained throughout the 48 h of testing. Olanzapine treated subjects showed reduced day 4 deficit (compared with day 1), with no significant difference from placebo beyond 6 h post dose. These results suggest that both haloperidol and olanzapine have a measurable initial effect on cognitive and psychomotor function in elderly volunteers. However, acute effects associated with olanzapine decrease with repeated dosing and show substantial adaptation within 4 days. In contrast, effects seen with haloperidol are sustained and increase with repeated dosing over the same period.

Key Words: cognitive function • computerized cognitive assessment • elderly volunteers • haloperidol • olanzapine • psychomotor effect

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 13, No. 2, 152-158 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/026988119901300207


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