Methylphenidate for Apathy in Alzheimer's Dementia: A Controlled Study
Summary
The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of methylphenidate over placebo in treating apathy in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Apathy is one of the earliest and most profound disturbances that occur in Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Hypotheses: 1. Methylphenidate (MPH) will improve apathy significantly more than placebo in AD. 2\. Successful treatment of apathy will improve Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), and caregiver burden.
Timeline
- Start
- 2007-08
- Primary completion
- 2010-03
- Completion
- 2010-06
Outcome
Met primary endpoint
registry analysis (superiority or other test); Methylphenidate Group vs Placebo Group; p <0.05; Mixed Models Analysis NCT00495820 ↗
paper After adjusting for baseline, the methylphenidate group had significantly greater improvement in apathy than the placebo group at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. PMID 28945120 ↗
Publications
- Results Padala PR, Burke WJ, Shostrom VK, Bhatia SC, Wengel SP, Potter JF, Petty F. Methylphenidate for apathy and functional status in dementia of the Alzheimer type. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010 Apr;18(4):371-4. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181cabcf6.
- Padala PR, Padala KP, Lensing SY, Ramirez D, Monga V, Bopp MM, Roberson PK, Dennis RA, Petty F, Sullivan DH, Burke WJ. Methylphenidate for Apathy in Community-Dwelling Older Veterans With Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 1;175(2):159-168. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17030316. Epub 2017 Sep 15.
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Methylphenidate | Small molecule | 10 mg | — |