Effect of corticosteroids on short-term and long-term memory

Neurology. 2005 Jan 25;64(2):335-7. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000149523.35039.4C.

Abstract

The effect of acute high-dose glucocorticoid therapy on memory function in patients with acute optic neuritis (n = 9) and multiple sclerosis (n = 21) was studied. All patients had reversible impairment of long-term memory functions, whereas measures of short-term memory, attentional functions, and alertness remained unaffected.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Attention / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Mental Recall / drug effects
  • Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Methylprednisolone / adverse effects*
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / psychology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Optic Neuritis / drug therapy*
  • Optic Neuritis / psychology
  • Stress, Physiological / psychology
  • Verbal Learning / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Methylprednisolone