Methylphenidate for apathy and functional status in dementia of the Alzheimer type.
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.
Padala
Prasad R
PR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. ppadala@unmc.edu
Burke
William J
WJ
Shostrom
Valerie K
VK
Bhatia
Subhash C
SC
Wengel
Steven P
SP
Potter
Jane F
JF
Petty
Frederick
F
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate