Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants: a randomized clinical trial

Nicole M. Barcelos; Peter H. Van Ness; Allison F. Wagner; Martha G. MacAvoy; Adam P. Mecca; George M. Anderson; Mark Trentalange; Keith A. Hawkins; Mary Sano; Amy F.T. Arnsten; Christopher H. van Dyck

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.05.033

Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants: a randomized clinical trial

Nicole M. Barcelos, Peter H. Van Ness, Allison F. Wagner, Martha G. MacAvoy, Adam P. Mecca, George M. Anderson, Mark Trentalange, Keith A. Hawkins, Mary Sano, Amy F.T. Arnsten, Christopher H. van Dyck

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21 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of the alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on prefrontally mediated cognitive functions, as well as quality of life and global function in healthy older participants. One hundred twenty-three participants aged 75 years and older were randomly assigned to guanfacine 0.5 mg, 0.1 mg, or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in z-score for 6 prefrontal executive function tasks over 12 weeks (PEF6). Neither dose of guanfacine improved PEF6 z-score relative to placebo. The rate of mean change (95% confidence interval) in PEF6 z-score over 12 weeks was 0.270 (0.159, 0.380) for placebo, compared with 0.121 (0.011, 0.232) for guanfacine 0.1 mg (p = 0.06, compared to placebo) and 0.213 (0.101, 0.324) for 0.5 mg (p = 0.47). Neither dose of guanfacine improved the quality of life or global function relative to placebo. Among common adverse events, only dry mouth was significantly more frequent on guanfacine compared to placebo. Guanfacine failed to ameliorate prefrontal cognitive function in older individuals, who were cognitively normal for age.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	117-124
Number of pages	8
Journal	Neurobiology of Aging
Volume	70
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.05.033
State	Published - Oct 2018

Keywords

Brain aging
Cognitive aging
Executive function
Guanfacine
Prefrontal cortex

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Barcelos, N. M., Van Ness, P. H., Wagner, A. F., MacAvoy, M. G., Mecca, A. P., Anderson, G. M., Trentalange, M., Hawkins, K. A., Sano, M., Arnsten, A. F. T., & van Dyck, C. H. (2018). Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants: a randomized clinical trial. Neurobiology of Aging, 70, 117-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.05.033

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title = "Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants: a randomized clinical trial",

abstract = "This study evaluated the effect of the alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on prefrontally mediated cognitive functions, as well as quality of life and global function in healthy older participants. One hundred twenty-three participants aged 75 years and older were randomly assigned to guanfacine 0.5 mg, 0.1 mg, or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in z-score for 6 prefrontal executive function tasks over 12 weeks (PEF6). Neither dose of guanfacine improved PEF6 z-score relative to placebo. The rate of mean change (95% confidence interval) in PEF6 z-score over 12 weeks was 0.270 (0.159, 0.380) for placebo, compared with 0.121 (0.011, 0.232) for guanfacine 0.1 mg (p = 0.06, compared to placebo) and 0.213 (0.101, 0.324) for 0.5 mg (p = 0.47). Neither dose of guanfacine improved the quality of life or global function relative to placebo. Among common adverse events, only dry mouth was significantly more frequent on guanfacine compared to placebo. Guanfacine failed to ameliorate prefrontal cognitive function in older individuals, who were cognitively normal for age.",

keywords = "Brain aging, Cognitive aging, Executive function, Guanfacine, Prefrontal cortex",

author = "Barcelos, {Nicole M.} and {Van Ness}, {Peter H.} and Wagner, {Allison F.} and MacAvoy, {Martha G.} and Mecca, {Adam P.} and Anderson, {George M.} and Mark Trentalange and Hawkins, {Keith A.} and Mary Sano and Arnsten, {Amy F.T.} and {van Dyck}, {Christopher H.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 The Authors",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.05.033",

language = "English",

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journal = "Neurobiology of Aging",

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T1 - Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants

T2 - a randomized clinical trial

AU - Barcelos, Nicole M.

AU - Van Ness, Peter H.

AU - Wagner, Allison F.

AU - MacAvoy, Martha G.

AU - Mecca, Adam P.

AU - Anderson, George M.

AU - Trentalange, Mark

AU - Hawkins, Keith A.

AU - Sano, Mary

AU - Arnsten, Amy F.T.

AU - van Dyck, Christopher H.

PY - 2018/10

Y1 - 2018/10

N2 - This study evaluated the effect of the alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on prefrontally mediated cognitive functions, as well as quality of life and global function in healthy older participants. One hundred twenty-three participants aged 75 years and older were randomly assigned to guanfacine 0.5 mg, 0.1 mg, or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in z-score for 6 prefrontal executive function tasks over 12 weeks (PEF6). Neither dose of guanfacine improved PEF6 z-score relative to placebo. The rate of mean change (95% confidence interval) in PEF6 z-score over 12 weeks was 0.270 (0.159, 0.380) for placebo, compared with 0.121 (0.011, 0.232) for guanfacine 0.1 mg (p = 0.06, compared to placebo) and 0.213 (0.101, 0.324) for 0.5 mg (p = 0.47). Neither dose of guanfacine improved the quality of life or global function relative to placebo. Among common adverse events, only dry mouth was significantly more frequent on guanfacine compared to placebo. Guanfacine failed to ameliorate prefrontal cognitive function in older individuals, who were cognitively normal for age.

AB - This study evaluated the effect of the alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on prefrontally mediated cognitive functions, as well as quality of life and global function in healthy older participants. One hundred twenty-three participants aged 75 years and older were randomly assigned to guanfacine 0.5 mg, 0.1 mg, or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in z-score for 6 prefrontal executive function tasks over 12 weeks (PEF6). Neither dose of guanfacine improved PEF6 z-score relative to placebo. The rate of mean change (95% confidence interval) in PEF6 z-score over 12 weeks was 0.270 (0.159, 0.380) for placebo, compared with 0.121 (0.011, 0.232) for guanfacine 0.1 mg (p = 0.06, compared to placebo) and 0.213 (0.101, 0.324) for 0.5 mg (p = 0.47). Neither dose of guanfacine improved the quality of life or global function relative to placebo. Among common adverse events, only dry mouth was significantly more frequent on guanfacine compared to placebo. Guanfacine failed to ameliorate prefrontal cognitive function in older individuals, who were cognitively normal for age.

KW - Brain aging

KW - Cognitive aging

KW - Executive function

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KW - Prefrontal cortex

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JO - Neurobiology of Aging

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ER -

Guanfacine treatment for prefrontal cognitive dysfunction in older participants: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Keywords

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