Low dose methylphenidate improves freezing in advanced Parkinson's disease during off-state

L. Pollak, Y. Dobronevsky, T. Prohorov, S. Bahunker, J. M. Rabey

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Five men with advanced idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) were examined to assess the effect of low dose methylphenidate (MPD) on gait. The patients were tested during "off" state before and two hours after the intake of 10mg MPD while walking an "8 trajectory". The total walking time, total freezing time, number of freezing episodes and the nonfreezing walking time were assessed. The obtained data were compared by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test with a type I error rate of 0.05. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in all gait parameters after MPD intake. Moreover, a good correlation in the grade of improvement for each individual gait characteristic was found. The study demonstrates that low dose of MPD may improve gait, and especially freezing, in patients with severe PD, without the need for exogenous L-dopa. The mechanism of MPD action in patients with advanced PD is further discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNeuropsychiatric Disorders An Integrative Approach
PublisherSpringer Wien
Pages145-148
Number of pages4
Edition72
ISBN (Print)9783211735732
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Publication series

NameJournal of Neural Transmission, Supplementa
Number72
ISSN (Print)0303-6995

Keywords

  • Parkinson's disease
  • freezing
  • methylphenidate

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