Dementia Drug May Improve Executive Function in Adult ADHD
Memantine, a drug approved for the treatment of dementia, may also effectively improve executive function in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.
In order to determine how the drug would affect the severity of executive function deficits (EFDs) in adult patients with ADHD, researchers followed 26 participants between the ages of 18 and 57 years with moderately severe to severe ADHD and EFDs.
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All participants were given oral system-methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) and were randomly assigned either 10 mg of memantine twice a day or placebo.
Note: OROS-MPH has been shown to have a significant effect on ADHD symptoms, but minimal effect on EFDs. Researchers believed that augmenting OROS-MPH with memantine, which improves cognition in patients with dementia, may allow the therapy to effectively treat both ADHD symptoms and lessen the effects of EFDs.
A standardized mean difference of ≥0.5 and odds ratios ≥2 were chosen as indicators of improvement, due to the study’s small sample size.
Overall, the 12 participants given memantine had a standardized mean difference >0.5 on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions-Adult Inhibition and on Self-Monitor subscales, when compared to those taking placebo.
Researchers noted that larger studies are needed to verify their results.
The study was presented at the 12th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry.
—Michael Potts
Reference:
Spencer T. Memantine in the treatment of adults with ADHD. Paper presented at: The 12th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry. June 15, 2015. Athens, Greece.