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[Apathetic geriatric patient benefits from methylphenidate]
A Ter Keurst1, J H A M Tuerlings, E A Bertholet
1Radboudumc, afd. Geriatrie, Nijmegen.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|September 16, 2017
Summary
Low-dose methylphenidate effectively treated apathy in two elderly patients when other interventions failed. This suggests methylphenidate as a potential treatment for apathy in geriatric care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuropsychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Apathy is a common and debilitating symptom in the elderly, associated with various neuropsychiatric, depressive, and somatic conditions.
- The incidence of apathy significantly increases with conditions like depression and dementia, impacting quality of life.
Observation:
- Two home-dwelling geriatric patients presented with persistent apathy unresponsive to previous interventions.
- An elderly care physician managed both cases, initiating treatment with low-dose methylphenidate.
Findings:
- Both patients exhibited a significant decrease in apathy symptoms following methylphenidate treatment.
- Patients demonstrated increased activity levels and improved engagement during the treatment period.
Implications:
- Low-dose methylphenidate shows promise as an effective therapeutic option for managing apathy in geriatric populations.
- Further clinical investigation into methylphenidate for apathy treatment in the elderly is warranted.
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