28 persons with an average age of 55 years were treated for 180 days with daily doses of 30 mg nicergoline (Sermion) and 28 persons of a comparable age were treated for the same length of time with 6 mg dihydroergotamine mesilate (DHETM) daily. Unwanted reactions occurred to a small degree in both treatment groups; they were mostly of a temporary nature and did not impede continuation of treatment. The results of the psychometric tests showed an increase in performance in both groups which was partly caused by the learning effect in repeated tests. The answers given by the patients concerning subjective changes in symptoms and general condition showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups. This leads to the assumption that both compounds have a similar effect. The analyses of the EEG activities showed a characteristic increase in the fast EEG activities after the application of nicergoline. This would indicate that there are differences in the pharmacodynamics in comparison with DHETM.