Posted: 23:30, July 5, 2022 | Updated: 23:46, July 5, 2022
Common drugs given to hyperactive children could also treat Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests. Dementia patients given ADHD drugs such as Ritalin saw significant improvements in their cognitive and brain function, according to a review. The drugs are thought to be a good fit because they trigger an area of the brain that affects things like attention, learning and memory. British researchers reviewed 19 studies dating back 40 years and involving nearly 2,000 patients, mostly between the ages of 65 and 80. Participants who received noradrenergic drugs saw a “small but significant” improvement in overall cognitive function, including memory, verbal fluency and language. The team also found that the drugs affected behavior and made patients feel less apathetic and demotivated. Researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge and University College London are now calling for more clinical trials of the drugs’ effect on Alzheimer’s disease. They say there is “good evidence” that the drugs could help. Common drugs given to hyperactive children like Ritalin could treat Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests The team analyzed 19 studies published between 1980 and 2021 that looked at the effect of ADHD drugs on people with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment. The drugs – given to patients for two weeks to a year – work by targeting noradrenaline, a chemical released by a network of specialized neurons in the body. This network is critical for many cognitive processes, including attention, learning, memory, and the suppression of inappropriate behaviors. The drugs had no effect on attention, according to the study. But there were small improvements in overall cognitive function and a “large positive effect” on symptoms of apathy. Commenting on the findings, Dr Mark Dallas, associate professor of cellular neuroscience at the University of Reading, said repurposing drugs that already exist to treat dementia is an “exciting prospect”. He said the review, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, is an “interesting teaser that drugs used to manage other conditions could join the fight against dementia.” University of Nottingham assistant professor of psychology Dr Andrew Reid said the study shows a “promising new avenue of research” as it suggests “a way to identify people at risk and treat them much earlier than is currently possible ». Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting over half a million people in the UK and around 6 million in the US. The disease causes brain cells to die and areas of the brain – including the noradrenergic system – to change. Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There is currently a lack of approved drugs to treat apathy in Alzheimer’s, a symptom that has been linked to lower quality of life, faster decline and increased stress for carers. “This well-conducted meta-analysis highlights the potential of noradrenergic drugs to treat some aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, but the evidence in the trials reviewed here varies in quality and it is difficult to directly compare the results from each study because the methods used are not consistent. “We can’t yet be sure what impact these drugs might have on a person’s daily life, and we don’t know if the benefits they provide would outweigh the risks.” Like any medication, ADHD medications can have side effects. The most common are loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. Less common side effects include nervousness, irritability, moodiness, headaches, stomachaches, fast heart rate, and high blood pressure.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease in which the accumulation of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages and causes the brain to shrink. More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it. WHAT’S UP; As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. This includes memory, orientation, and the ability to think and reason. The progression of the disease is slow and gradual. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live ten to 15 years. EARLY SYMPTOMS:
Short-term memory loss Disorientation Behavioral changes Mood swings Difficulty dealing with money or making a phone call
LATER SYMPTOMS:
Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places Anxiety and frustration due to inability to understand the world, leading to aggressive behavior Eventually he loses the ability to walk He may have problems with eating The majority will eventually need 24-hour care
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
