Methylphenidate for attention problems in adults with epilepsy
Official title: Methylphenidate for the treatment of epilepsy-related cognitive deficits: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Funded at VA Medical Center · NIH-11132653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial checks whether methylphenidate (a stimulant) can help adults with epilepsy who have trouble with attention and focus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002474-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with epilepsy who are experiencing attentional dysfunction and who meet medical stability and safety criteria for stimulant treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people without attention problems, or those with contraindications to stimulants or unstable/uncontrolled seizures may not be helped or may be excluded.
What this research studies
You would join a multi-site, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial where some participants receive methylphenidate and others receive a placebo without knowing which they get. The study focuses on adults with epilepsy who report attention and cognitive problems and tracks changes in attention, daily functioning, and safety over the treatment period. There is also an open-label extension where participants can receive the medication after the blinded phase. Researchers will monitor seizures and side effects closely because stimulants can affect seizure risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve attention, daily functioning, and quality of life for adults with epilepsy-related cognitive problems.
How similar studies have gone: Small single-dose, open-label adult studies and pediatric trials suggest possible benefit and acceptable safety, but larger, longer randomized trials are lacking.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Medical Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leeman-Markowski, Beth Ami — VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Leeman-Markowski, Beth Ami
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A national effort to collect and share large, multi‑modal brain data from people with medication‑resistant epilepsy to speed discoveries and improve treatment options.
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A study in zebrafish will model human epilepsy genes to help explain how certain brain mutations contribute to seizures.
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New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
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Sahel Epilepsy Study: finding patterns in epilepsy in rural Africa and its links to genes
A plan to study epilepsy in rural Nigeria to discover how common it is, what factors affect risk, and how genetics may influence it, with results that could improve care for people with epilepsy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.