Low dose methylphenidate improves freezing in advanced Parkinson's disease during off-state.
Five men with advanced idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) were examined to assess the effect of low dose methylphenidate (MPD) on gait. The patients were tested during "off" state before and two hours after the intake of 10 mg MPD while walking an "8 trajectory". The total walking time, total freezing time, number of freezing episodes and the non-freezing walking time were assessed. The obtained data were compared by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test with a type I error rate of 0.05. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in all gait parameters after MPD intake. Moreover, a good correlation in the grade of improvement for each individual gait characteristic was found. The study demonstrates that low dose of MPD may improve gait, and especially freezing, in patients with severe PD, without the need for exogenous L-dopa. The mechanism of MPD action in patients with advanced PD is further discussed.
Pollak
L
L
Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Zerifin, Israel. lea.pollak@gmail.com
Dobronevsky
Y
Y
Prohorov
T
T
Bahunker
S
S
Rabey
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate