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The Manila Times Internet Edition | WORLD > Ritalin may help elderly avoid falls – study

by danesller0127 | July 29, 2008 at 12:55 pm

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WASHINGTON: 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.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
“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 from a sitting position, walk 10 feet, walk back and sit down.

The ones who took Ritalin “performed the test quicker and had less variability in their ‘stride time,’ a common sign of instability,” researchers found.

Hausdorff described the notion of treating fall risk with a pill as an “intriguing concept,” but noted “it is still too early to recommend Ritalin on a wide-scale basis.”

Some studies have found that more than half of seniors who fall and break a hip will die within a year of the incident, he added.
--AFP

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Rob Peters

at 13:35 on July 29th, 2008

Hi danesller0127,

Thanks for the post...I hadn't heard of Ritalin being used in this way until now. I'd encourage you to add your own thoughts about the story as well. What got you interested in the topic? You'll find that stories with original material get more attention on the site and often generate interesting discussion. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Rob

danesller0127

at 14:43 on July 29th, 2008

You're welcome Sir!

In my personal understanding, i think this findings is very interesting to those people or children sufferring from a desease that related to this story. maybe a doctor have a better explanation for this matter, but according to the study, it can cure hyperactive children and it can improve cognitive ability to aging people.

I have an aging father, suffering from a desease and he cannot properly walked at this time, maybe a discussion can solved my father's desease, that's why i'm interested to this story.

Thanks again,

danesller

Rob Peters

at 14:57 on July 29th, 2008

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and sorry to hear about your father. Best of luck.

Uwe Paschen

at 22:49 on July 29th, 2008

danesller0127, Good topic and interesting what the Pharm. industry keeps coming up with.

I am personally against Retalin and its use, especially in children! The medication basically makes the Kids nom and does not help their cognitive ability, rather the opposite!

I used to teach and a number of Kids had been on this medication, My approach was to take them of the medication and teach them to live with they're so called Hyper active nature,

Today we put the kids before a TV and expect them to behave like the Dog ! The Kids need to be active and teachers as well as parents need to learn how to deal with them not drug them into vegetables of sorts!

Now as to your Father I have no clue how this would work or even could work, in cases such as Parkinson the only thing that can be done so far is to slow the illness down!

I would like to find out though how this could work! Wish you all the best!

danesller0127

at 08:58 on July 30th, 2008

Thank you! Pachen san' i have no idea about this medication yet, my father mostly uses natural herbal medicine, it is very common in my place in the Philippines, he does some exercise too, and because that he is now 78 year-old, he cannot walked properly specially going upstair 'not the same as the good old days' and he accepted that...

When i read this Retalin on the web, i've got an idea that maybe it is helful to my fathers...but with precautions! i remember what the Doctor always said ' this is medicament, do not by yourself, a product consumption can affect your health... Maraming salamat po!

danesller

tigran777

at 05:25 on July 30th, 2008

Muscle tone and strength is what steadies and balances us, and that can be achieved in older adults no matter what their cognitive state, barring a very small minority which is not who this study dealt with, and is not who this dangerous brain destroying drug is being pitched to.

I was a research associate in a study done with several hundred older adults, still independent but using some help and aids; canes, walkers, occasional wheelchair use, scooters, oxygen. By the end of a several month program, they were stronger, less ill, happier, and all had improved strength, mobility, agility and balance.

We didn’t use drugs of any kind, but exercise. The study was done by the faculties of physical education and nursing at my nearby university.

Some of these people, who ranged in aged from 70s to 93, were able to come off drugs, get out more, and thus experience less depression. They all were delighted with their individual levels of regained independence and mobility.

http://thefatlosssecret.blogspot.com/

danesller0127

at 09:26 on July 30th, 2008

Hi there, tigran777!!! Your right! a lot of exercise does very good to our body, that's the secret on maintainig our body physically fit. P.E. or Physical Education in schools are very helpul to growing children, because young children can learn early on how to protect the body by doing exercise everyday with personal hygience.

Thank you for the support, 'I'm getting older too, that's why i am concerned'... regards to the research, and more power!!!

danesller