NeuroEPO and cognitive function in Parkinsons disease in a randomized placebo-controlled and post-trial studies

Background. Cognitive impairment is a feature of Parkinsons Disease (PD) from the early stages but currently, no treatment for cognitive deficits in PD is available. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been studied for its potential neuroprotective properties in neurologic disorders with a beneficial action on cognition. Objective: We want to know if NeuroEPO, a new formulation of EPO with low content of sialic acid has effects on cognitive function in PD in a double-blind randomized placebo and after a post-trial intervention. Methods: The sample was composed of 26 PD patients (HY stages I-II), where 15 received intranasal NeuroEPO for 5 weeks and another age and gender-matched 11 patients were randomly assigned to the placebo. During a post-trial all the sample received 9 months of intensive NeuroEPO treatment. Cognitive functions were assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery before, one week and 6 months after the first intervention and 9months after the post-trial. The effects of NeuroEPO were evaluated using a multivariate linear mixed-effects model using a latent variable for cognition instead of the raw neuropsychological scores. Results: We found a significant and direct effect of the dose of NeuroEPO (p=0.00001) on cognitive performance with a strong positive influence of educational level (p=0.0004) and negative impact of age (p=0.007). Conclusions: This preliminary results showed a positive effect of NeuroEPO on cognition in PD patients.