Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Nov 1984
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Effect of nootropic drugs on normal and disturbed sleep of the elderly: controlled studies with pyridoxilate and street noise].
The effect of the nootropic drug, piridoxilate on normal and on exogenously (by traffic noise) disturbed sleep and awakening quality was investigated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. 10 elderly subjects with a mean age of 62 years spent 13 nights in the sleep laboratory: 2 adaptation nights, 1 baseline night, 3 drug nights (placebo, 300 and 600 mg piridoxilate), as well as 2 drug nights with nocturnal traffic noise (placebo and 600 mg piridoxilate) and the subsequent wash-out nights. Polysomnographic recordings (including EEG, EMG and EOG) were carried out between 10:30 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. Traffic noise was pre-recorded at a busy Viennese street and presented continuously by a loudspeaker with a sound pressure level at the ear of between 68 and 83 dB (A) [mean 75.6 dB (A)]. ⋯ Nocturnal traffic noise produced a decrease in total sleep time and sleep efficiency, an increase in wakefulness and drowsiness (stage 1), as well as a decrease in REM and deep sleep stages, the last-mentioned being of statistical significance. Subjectively, the elderly subjects reported a deterioration in sleep quality due to traffic noise, an increase in middle and late insomnia, as well as a deterioration in awakening quality (dizziness, tiredness, headaches). Piridoxilate did not ameliorate these sleep disturbances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)