OBJECTIVE: Apathy is the most common behavioral problem in persons with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Treatment of apathy in DAT is not systematically studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of apathy to methylphenidate treatment and to examine whether functional status improved. METHODS: The authors conducted a 12-week open-labeled study with immediate release formulation of methylphenidate. Twenty-three patients with DAT scoring >40 on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) were recruited. Repeated measures analysis of variance and correlation analysis were performed. RESULTS: None of the patients dropped out of the study because of adverse events. Significant improvement in apathy was noted during 12 weeks. Significant improvement was also noted in depression, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and functional status. There was no correlation between changes in the AES and depression scores. CONCLUSIONS: Methylphenidate was well tolerated in these patients with DAT. Apathy improved with the use of methylphenidate.
OBJECTIVE: Apathy is the most common behavioral problem in persons with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Treatment of apathy in DAT is not systematically studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of apathy to methylphenidate treatment and to examine whether functional status improved. METHODS: The authors conducted a 12-week open-labeled study with immediate release formulation of methylphenidate. Twenty-three patients with DAT scoring >40 on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) were recruited. Repeated measures analysis of variance and correlation analysis were performed. RESULTS: None of the patients dropped out of the study because of adverse events. Significant improvement in apathy was noted during 12 weeks. Significant improvement was also noted in depression, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and functional status. There was no correlation between changes in the AES and depression scores. CONCLUSIONS:Methylphenidate was well tolerated in these patients with DAT. Apathy improved with the use of methylphenidate.
Authors: Constantine G Lyketsos; Maria C Carrillo; J Michael Ryan; Ara S Khachaturian; Paula Trzepacz; Joan Amatniek; Jesse Cedarbaum; Robert Brashear; David S Miller Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Saikat Chakraborty; Jack C Lennon; Sridhar A Malkaram; Yan Zeng; Daniel W Fisher; Hongxin Dong Journal: Neurosci Lett Date: 2019-04-01 Impact factor: 3.046
Authors: Sophia Mueller; Anna Costa; Daniel Keeser; Oliver Pogarell; Albert Berman; Ute Coates; Maximilian F Reiser; Michael Riedel; Hans-Jürgen Möller; Ulrich Ettinger; Thomas Meindl Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2014-05-23 Impact factor: 5.038