The Effects of Methylphenidate on the Cognitive Function of Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

February 23, 2021 updated by: Meir Medical Center

The Effects of Methylphenidate on the Cognitive Function of Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-blind Trial.

Background: The increase in life expectancy and the rise in the ratio of older to younger people in the population has resulted in an increase in the number of those suffering from a decrease in cognitive ability, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methylphenidate can improve cognitive ability, mainly in memory and executive function.

Working hypothesis and aims:

This study examines the effect of Ritalin treatment in older people suffering from MCI. Our hypothesis is that treatment with Ritalin will improve cognitive function in those suffering from MCI, especially in the domains of attention and executive function.

Methods A randomized, double-blind, case-control study. 120 patients older than 65 years of age diagnosed as suffering from MCI in the past year in geriatric assessment facilities in Beersheva. Patients will be randomized in equal groups to either the study group (Ritalin treatment) and control group (placebo). Each participant will attend the geriatric unit for four consecutive days: on the day prior to beginning the intervention participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 am. On the intervention days (days 2-4) participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 in the morning, followed by the administration (at 10:30) of different doses of Ritalin (10, 20 and 30mg) every day of intervention. Participants in the control group will receive placebo. Two hours after taking the drug or placebo participants in both groups will be assessed cognitively by means of Mindstreams and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment).

Expected results: Ritalin treatment will improve the cognitive function of the subjects, mainly in the domains of concentration and executive function

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

16

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Israel
      • Beer-Sheva, Israel
        • Clalit Health Service

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

63 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • >65 years old
  • Male and Female
  • Living in the community

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Suffer from unstable conditions, for example, unstable heart disease, severe heart failure, severe renal failure, cirrhosis, blood pressure above 160/100;
  • patient who suffer from glaucoma, hyperthyroididsm, epilepsy, patients after stroke, patient with Parkinson's disease, major depression, schizophrenia or receiving neuroleptic drugs;
  • patient who suffer from dementia
  • patients that recieve treatment in acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine.
  • known sensitivity to methylphenidate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Methylphenidate
On the intervention days (days 2-4) participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 in the morning, followed by the administration (at 10:30) of different doses of Ritalin (10, 20 and 30mg) every day of intervention. Two hours after taking the drug participants will be assessed cognitively by means of Mindstreams and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment).
Drug: Methylphenidate
On the intervention days (days 2-4) participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 in the morning, followed by the administration (at 10:30) of different doses of Ritalin (10, 20 and 30mg) every day of intervention.
Other Names:
  • Ritalin
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants in the control group will receive placebo. On the intervention days (days 2-4) participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 in the morning, followed by the administration (at 10:30) of Placebo every day of intervention. Two hours after taking the placebo participants will be assessed cognitively by means of Mindstreams and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment).
Drug: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
cognitive function
Time Frame: Twice a day during 3 days
Each participant will attend the geriatric unit for four consecutive days: on the day prior to beginning the intervention participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 am. On the intervention days (days 2-4) participants will undergo cognitive assessment at 9:00 in the morning, followed by the administration (at 10:30) of different doses of Ritalin (10, 20 and 30mg) every day of intervention. Participants in the control group will receive placebo. Two hours after taking the drug or placebo participants in both groups will be assessed cognitively by means of Mindstreams and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment).
Twice a day during 3 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Meir Medical Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yan Press, M.D, Dr.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 1, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

July 2, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2021

Last Verified

June 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MMC0642013

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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