ADHD Drug May Harm How Children Learn

A new study found that the popular Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drug methylphenidate may affect the memory and learning of children with the condition.

Researchers at The University of Wisconsin used different doses of methylphenidate, which is better known as Ritalin, on three monkeys who were taught to focus on a central dot located on a screen as a “target” dot flashed nearby. The monkeys were then taught they could earn a sip of water by waiting until the central dot switched off, and then looking at the location of the dot that vanished.

The results of the study showed that dosage had a major impact.

“At low dose, the performance scores improved because the monkeys could control their impulses and wait long enough to focus their eyes on the target. All three were calmer and could complete a significantly larger number of trials,” said Luis Populin, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

Populin also noted that on higher doses “performance on the task is impaired,” but the monkeys did not seem to care and repeatedly made the same mistakes. She added that while people believe ADHD drugs help improve memory, the results of the study found the opposite.

“At the higher dose, you get a behavioral improvement at a price, and that price is cognitive ability," she said.

If your child was harmed by a dangerous drug such as Ritalin, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

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