A method for measuring mental performance in the elderly and its use in a pilot clinical trial of meclofenoxate in organic dementia (preliminary communication)

Abstract

A small double-blind study of the effect of meclofenoxate (Lucidril) on the mental ability of a sample of elderly patients in two short-stay geriatric units was undertaken using an objective measure of performance in the form of an automatically administered 'learning' task. Twelve patients, all women, in six matched pairs, completed the study in accordance with the trial design criteria. The treated group all improved with respect to their controls (P = 0·025, one tail), a result which is regarded as encouraging and warranting further work on both the assessment technique used and the effects of meclofenoxate. © 1972 Oxford University Press.