Dataset Information

Histamine H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine impairs working memory processing speed, but not episodic memory.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The histaminergic neurotransmitter system is currently under investigation as a target for drug treatment of cognitive deficits in clinical disorders. The therapeutic potential of new drugs may initially be screened using a model of histaminergic dysfunction, for example, as associated with the use of centrally active antihistamines. Of the selective second generation antihistamines, cetirizine has been found to have central nervous system effects. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cetirizine can be used as a tool to model cognitive deficits associated with histaminergic hypofunction.

Experimental approach

The study was conducted according to a three-way, double-blind, cross-over design. Treatments were single oral doses of cetirizine 10 and 20 mg and placebo. Effects on cognition were assessed using tests of word learning, memory scanning, vigilance, divided attention, tracking and visual information processing speed.

Key results

Cetirizine 10 mg impaired tracking performance and both doses impaired memory scanning speed. None of the other measures indicated impaired performance.

Conclusion and implications

Cetirizine affects information processing speed, but these effects were not sufficient to serve as a model for cognitive deficits in clinical disorders.

SUBMITTER: van Ruitenbeek P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2989595 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Histamine H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine impairs working memory processing speed, but not episodic memory.

van Ruitenbeek P P Vermeeren A A Riedel W J WJ

British journal of pharmacology 20100901 2

<h4>Background and purpose</h4>The histaminergic neurotransmitter system is currently under investigation as a target for drug treatment of cognitive deficits in clinical disorders. The therapeutic potential of new drugs may initially be screened using a model of histaminergic dysfunction, for example, as associated with the use of centrally active antihistamines. Of the selective second generation antihistamines, cetirizine has been found to have central nervous system effects. The aim of the p ...[more]

PMID: 20735428

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Project description:Background and purposeSecondary-progressive MS is characterized by reduced acute inflammation and contrast enhancement but with increased axonal degeneration and cognitive/clinical disability that worsens with advanced disease. Relative recirculation, extracted from DSC is a surrogate measure of BBB integrity. We hypothesized that normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation is reduced in cognitively impaired compared with nonimpaired secondary-progressive MS, reflecting more advanced disease.Materials and methodsCognitive performance was classified as impaired or nonimpaired by use of Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function In MS test components. Demographic data, brain parenchymal fraction, WM lesion fraction, and weighted mean normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation were compared in cognitively dichotomized groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to study the association between cognitive test results and normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of 36 patients with secondary-progressive MS studied was 55.9 ± 9.3 years; 13 of 36 (36%) patients were male. A highly significant difference between normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation and WM lesion relative recirculation was present for all patients (P < .001). Normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation in impaired patients was significantly lower than in nonimpaired subjects for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P = .007), Controlled Word Association Test (P = .008), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (P = .024). The Expanded Disability Status Scale demonstrated an inverse correlation with normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation (r = -0.319, P = .075). After adjustment for confounders, significant normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation reduction persisted for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P = .023) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (P = .047) but not for the Controlled Word Association Test (P = .13) in impaired patients.ConclusionsSignificant normal-appearing white matter relative recirculation reduction exists in cognitively impaired patients with secondary-progressive MS, localizing to the domains of processing speed and working memory.

Dataset Information

Histamine H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine impairs working memory processing speed, but not episodic memory.

Background and purpose

Experimental approach

Key results

Conclusion and implications

Publications

Histamine H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine impairs working memory processing speed, but not episodic memory.

Similar Datasets

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