Ritalin may Help Prevent Falls

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

12 Aug 2008 07:25 PM

You may be familiar with Ritalin (methylphenidate) because of its use in treating hyperactivity... but a recent study took a look at other benefits the drug might have.

The Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University held a study on the effects of Ritalin in older adults. Twenty-six healthy, independently living seniors participated in the study. Some were given a placebo; some were given Ritalin (or a generic equivalent).

The seniors were given a fall screening test before and after the drugs were administered. The test required participants to:

• Rise from a sitting position
• Walk ten feet (approximately three meters)
• Turn around and walk back to the chair
• Sit down again

After taking Ritalin, the seniors were able to perform the test at a greater speed and with less variation in their strides. Stride variability is one sign of instability, and can increase your chances of suffering a fall. Just one dose was enough to make a noticeable difference in the fall risk test results!

Keep in mind that this was a small, preliminary study. More research and trials are needed before doctors can recommend Ritalin to reduce fall risk on a broad basis. But if more studies confirm that methylphenidate can reduce fall risk, that's good news for a lot of seniors.

In the meantime, there are many drug-free things you can do to help reduce fall risk for yourself or a loved one:

• Remove throw rugs that can slip or bunch up and trip you.
• Install hand rails on stairs, in hallways, and in bathrooms.
• Wear rubber-soled shoes for good traction. Skip the high heels!
• Take it slow. Rushing can increase your chances of a fall.
• Work on your range of motion. The more flexible you are, the better your balance will be -- and your chances of a fall will decrease.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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