ArticleBrain & NeuroRehabilitation2025
Efficacy of Methylphenidate in Patients With Brain Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Article in Brain & NeuroRehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Depression in Parkinson's disease is associated with reduced ventral striatal dopamine transporter binding.NPJ Parkinson's disease · 2026Article
- Bridging the gap: Acute amantadine augments the neurorehabilitative efficacy of delayed and abbreviated environmental enrichment in a pediatric traumatic brain injury model.Brain research · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate in patients with brain disease. A comprehensive search up to November 4, 2024 identified 33 randomized controlled trials involving 1,369 participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), other dementias, and multiple sclerosis. Methylphenidate was administered at 10-80 mg/day or 0.1-1 mg/kg/day for durations ranging from a single dose to 6 months. Data were synthesized using a random-effects model, with study quality evaluated via the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Methylphenidate significantly improved attention (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03 to 0.84), particularly in TBI. Motor function improved in stroke populations (mean difference [MD], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.13 to 1.18), while activities of daily living (ADL) significantly improved in stroke and AD (SMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.06). Apathy was significantly reduced in AD (SMD, -0.60; 95% CI, -0.95 to -0.26), and depression improved across patients with PD, stroke, and TBI (SMD, -0.50; 95% CI, -0.94 to -0.05). No significant effects were observed for consciousness, global cognition, executive function, fatigue, or quality of life. Side effects were mild, with a slight increase in pulse rate (MD, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.47). In summary, methylphenidate improves attention (TBI), motor function (stroke), ADL (stroke, AD), and mood, especially apathy (AD) and depression, with a favorable safety profile. Its effects appear condition-specific, and further research is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and establish standardized protocols. Trial Registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews Identifier: CRD42024563826.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.