Abstract
Placebo and ACTH 4–10 (in ascending dosages from 15 to 60 mg) were administered subcutaneously to normal aging subjects (mean, 65.6 years). Measurements were obtained for EEG, EKG, SMA-12, urine, and blood pressure. Behavioral tasks measuring reaction time (RT), short-term memory, perceptual speed, and motor speed were administered. There were no pre- to post-injection changes in SMA-12, urine, EEG, and EKG. There was an improvement in RT time that was dose related. These data indicate that ACTH 4–10 is (1) safe to administer to an aging population and (2) combined with data on young adults suggest that it may act on the attentional/arousal processes. Results suggest that ACTH 4–10 may have stimulant-like properties on behavior without effecting the CNS and cardiovascular system.