Cochrane · systematic review · CD012197
Pharmacological interventions for apathy in Alzheimer's disease
Ruthirakuhan, MT, Herrmann, N, Abraham, EH, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library
Dementia and Cognitive ImprovementAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
16
current version
GRADE rated
11
No studies
5
Included studies
NR
No studies 5 · 31.3%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 7 · 43.8%Moderate 4 · 25%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Methylphenidate compared to placebo for apathy in Alzheimer's disease
Population: Apathy in people with mild‐to‐moderate Alzheimer's disease
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Change in apathy (AES score) Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 145 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Change in apathy (NPI‐apathy subscale score) Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 85 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Adverse events Methylphenidate vs placebo | RR 1.28 [0.67, 2.42] | 3 studies · 145 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Change in NPS Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 25 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Change in cognition Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 145 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Change in functional performance Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Change in functional performance Methylphenidate vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Change in global disease severity Methylphenidate vs placebo | RR 0.56 [0.15, 2.1] | 2 studies · 85 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Dropouts Methylphenidate vs placebo | RR 2.1 [0.6, 7.38] | 3 studies · 145 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Modafinil compared to placebo for apathy in Alzheimer's disease
Population: Apathy in people with mild‐to‐moderate Alzheimer's disease
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Change in apathy Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 22 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Adverse Events ‐ reported, but not analyzed in this review Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in NPS ‐ not investigated Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in cognition ‐ not investigated Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in functional performance Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 22 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Change in global disease severity ‐ not investigated Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Dropouts ‐ reported, but not analyzed in this review Modafinil vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |