Effect of Methylphenidate on Alzheimer's and Dementia
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a neurogenerative disorder that causes impairments in cognitive abilities, behavior, and personality. AD is distinguished by extracellular plaques containing beta-amyloid proteins and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Current FDA-approved drugs for AD have questionable efficacy and carry potential risks. Methylphenidate (Ritalin), a stimulant drug currently used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, has been used off-label to treat AD patients, primarily for relieving the symptom of apathy. While our literature review suggests that relatively short-term (< 6 weeks) use in patients with AD and related diseases is safe and effective in clinical trials, little is known about the longer-term effects of the drug in this population. More work is needed, as there is also a paucity of animal research investigating chronic effects of methylphenidate in rodent models of AD and related disorders. Findings from animal studies in wild-type rodents on chronic use of methylphenidate, as well as cell culture studies, have reported adverse effects of methylphenidate, including increases in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, vascular impairments (e.g. blood brain barrier dysfunction), and altered cognitive-behavioral performance. While the clinical significance of methylphenidate treatment in AD patients may be unclear, studies over longer periods of time including testing on animal models will help us understand how methylphenidate treatment can affect our brain activity in the long term and how it can be administered more safely and effectively.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Lisa Robinson
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
Effect of Methylphenidate on Alzheimer's and Dementia
Alvin Sherman Library
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a neurogenerative disorder that causes impairments in cognitive abilities, behavior, and personality. AD is distinguished by extracellular plaques containing beta-amyloid proteins and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Current FDA-approved drugs for AD have questionable efficacy and carry potential risks. Methylphenidate (Ritalin), a stimulant drug currently used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, has been used off-label to treat AD patients, primarily for relieving the symptom of apathy. While our literature review suggests that relatively short-term (< 6 weeks) use in patients with AD and related diseases is safe and effective in clinical trials, little is known about the longer-term effects of the drug in this population. More work is needed, as there is also a paucity of animal research investigating chronic effects of methylphenidate in rodent models of AD and related disorders. Findings from animal studies in wild-type rodents on chronic use of methylphenidate, as well as cell culture studies, have reported adverse effects of methylphenidate, including increases in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, vascular impairments (e.g. blood brain barrier dysfunction), and altered cognitive-behavioral performance. While the clinical significance of methylphenidate treatment in AD patients may be unclear, studies over longer periods of time including testing on animal models will help us understand how methylphenidate treatment can affect our brain activity in the long term and how it can be administered more safely and effectively.
