Ritalin may help elderly avoid falls: study

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The medication Ritalin (methylphenidate), often prescribed to treat hyperactive children, may also be used to prevent elderly people from falling, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

"After only one dose of Ritalin, seniors walked with a steadier gait and performed better on a standard screening test for fall risk," according to findings by Jeffrey Hausdorff at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University.

The medication was shown to help improve cognitive abilities in aging people, according to a study of 26 healthy seniors who lived independently.

Some were given a placebo, and others Ritalin -- the most popular brand name for the generic stimulant methylphenidate -- before being asked to rise...