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Methylphenidate for Apathy in Community-Dwelling Older Veterans With Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
- Source :
-
The American journal of psychiatry [Am J Psychiatry] 2018 Feb 01; Vol. 175 (2), pp. 159-168. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Sep 15. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- Objective: Apathy is a common behavioral problem in Alzheimer's disease. Apathy has profound consequences, such as functional impairment, higher service utilization, higher caregiver burden, and increased mortality. The authors' objective was to study the effects of methylphenidate on apathy in Alzheimer's disease.<br />Method: A 12-week, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (methylphenidate versus placebo) was conducted in community-dwelling veterans (N=60) with mild Alzheimer's disease. The primary outcome for apathy (Apathy Evaluation Scale-Clinician) and secondary outcomes for cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination, Modified Mini-Mental State Examination), functional status (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living), improvement and severity (Clinical Global Impressions Scale [CGI]), caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Scale), and depression (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia) were measured at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.<br />Results: Participants were all men (77 years old, SD=8). 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. At 12 weeks, there was also greater improvement in cognition, functional status, caregiver burden, CGI scores, and depression in the methylphenidate group compared with the placebo group.<br />Conclusions: Methylphenidate improved apathy in a group of community-dwelling veterans with mild Alzheimer's disease. Methylphenidate also improved cognition, functional status, caregiver burden, CGI scores, and depression.
- Subjects :
- Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease physiopathology
Alzheimer Disease psychology
Caregivers
Cognition
Depression psychology
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
Prospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Alzheimer Disease drug therapy
Apathy
Central Nervous System Stimulants therapeutic use
Methylphenidate therapeutic use
Veterans psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1535-7228
- Volume :
- 175
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28945120
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17030316