Cognitive effects of methylphenidate in patients with Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment.

2026-525701-12-00 Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II) Not authorised

Status Not authorised · 1 EU/EEA countries · 1 sites

Overview

Sponsor-declared trial summary

Phase Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II)
Status Not authorised
Participants planned 40
Countries 1
Sites 1

Parkinson's disease

The objective of the current study is to examine the cognitive effects of a three-month course of methylphenidate (MPD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study may contribute to determining whether MPD has beneficial effects on cognition and attention in advanced PD patient…

Key facts

Sponsor
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Participant type
Patients
Age range
18-64 years, 65+ years
Gender
Male and Female
Therapeutic area
Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment [E] - Therapeutics [E02], Psychiatry and Psychology [F] - Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms [F01], Phenomena and Processes [G] - Physiological processes [G07]
Decision date (initial)
2026-06-08
Transition trial
No
Low-intervention
Yes
Rare-disease indication
No
Vulnerable population
No
Funding sources
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (referencia PID2023-150168NB-I00)

Trial design

CTIS Part I — objectives, methods, condition coding

Main objective

Scope: Therapy

The objective of the current study is to examine the cognitive effects of a three-month course of methylphenidate (MPD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study may contribute to determining whether MPD has beneficial effects on cognition and attention in advanced PD patients who exhibit cognitive impairment. To evaluate these effects, we will use objective electrophysiological measures associated with processing of goal-directed contextual information in working memory, an important executive function that has been shown to be deficient in PD. In addition, we will evaluate the effect of MPD on cognitive function and quality of life in the patients, using neuropsychological tests. This will be the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, to specifically evaluate the cognitive effects of MPD in PD patients with MCI.

Conditions and MedDRA coding

Parkinson's disease

Study design 2 periods

#TitleAllocationBlindingRoles blindedArms
1 Methylphenidate
Three months of methylphenidate
Randomised Controlled Double [{"id":188244,"code":2,"name":"Investigator"},{"id":188241,"code":5,"name":"Carer"},{"id":188242,"code":4,"name":"Analyst"},{"id":188243,"code":1,"name":"Subject"}] Methylphenidate: 3 months of methylphenidate
2 Placebo
3 months of placebo
Randomised Controlled Double [{"id":188249,"code":1,"name":"Subject"},{"id":188247,"code":4,"name":"Analyst"},{"id":188248,"code":2,"name":"Investigator"},{"id":188246,"code":5,"name":"Carer"}] Placebo: 3 months of placebo

Eligibility criteria

Principal inclusion / exclusion criteria as submitted by sponsor

Inclusion criteria 1

  1. Parkinson's disease patients, 50-80 years old. It will be obligatory for patients to have a good response to levodopa. We will include PD patients with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores of 20-25, indicating cognitive impairment. No change to PD medications within the month preceding randomization, including starting, stopping, or dosage modifications. Treatment with stable doses of levodopa and cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) is allowable if stable for 3 months before randomization.

Exclusion criteria 1

  1. Any change in dopaminergic therapy three months prior or during the study. Previous use of methylphenidate. Patients with clinically significant depression, patients who have suffered from hallucinations/delusions/psychosis, severe motor fluctuations and prominent ON dyskinesia, unbalanced arterial hypertension of more than 140/80, uncontrolled hypertension, hepatic or renal failure, uncontrolled malignancy, or untreated glaucoma, women of childbearing potential (screening will include pregnancy test). Hyperthyroidism, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, serious structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious heart rhythm abnormalities, or a family history of sudden death or death related to heart problems. Patients treated with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), other psychotropic medications, or suspected hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or its excipients.

Endpoints

Primary and secondary outcome measures (English text)

Primary endpoints 4

  1. Electrophysiological markers
  2. Neuropsychological evaluation
  3. UPDRS II and III
  4. PDQ-8 (Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire)

Investigational products

Investigational medicinal products (IMPs), comparators, placebo, auxiliary

Test 1

Methylphenidate Viatris 10 mg tabletten

PRD11417948 · Product

Active substance
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride
Pharmaceutical form
TABLET
Route of administration
ORAL
Max daily dose
80 mg milligram(s)
Max total dose
7200 mg milligram(s)
Max treatment duration
3 Month(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
N06BA04 — METHYLPHENIDATE
Marketing authorisation
BE489404
MA holder
VIATRIS GX
MA country
Belgium
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
No

Placebo 1

saccharine tablets

N/A · Product

Other product name
N/A
Pharmaceutical form
N/A
ATC code
N/A — N/A
Marketing authorisation
N/A
MA holder
N/A
MA country
Iceland
Paediatric formulation
No

Sponsors and contacts

Sponsor organisations, regulatory contacts, third parties

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Sponsor organisation
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Address
Calle Del Tulipan Sn
City
Madrid
Postcode
28046
Country
Spain

Scientific contact point

Organisation
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Contact name
secretariageneral

Public contact point

Organisation
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Contact name
secretariageneral

Locations

1 EU/EEA country · 1 investigational sites

By country

CountryMS statusPlanned subjectsSites
Spain Not authorised 40 1
Rest of world 0

Investigational sites

Spain

1 site · Not authorised
Hospital Universitario Fundacion Alcorcon
Neurology, Calle Budapest 1, 28922, Alcorcon

Results and documents

Annex IV summary of results, Annex V layperson summary, and all documents registered in CTIS for this trial

Documents 6 files

Public protocol annexes, IB summaries, regulatory submissions and post-authorisation documents registered in CTIS.

TypeTitleVersion
Protocol (for publication) Protocol052026R2 1
Protocol (for publication) ProtocolR2highlightedchanges 1
Recruitment arrangements (for publication) Recruitment Arrangements 1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) MPDInformacionPacienteHUFA1225 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) ProtocolspanishR2 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) ProtocolsynopsisEN 1

Application history

1 submissions — initial application plus substantial / non-substantial modifications

#TypeCodeSubmittedReference MSConclusionDecision date
1 INITIAL IN 2026-02-11 Spain Not acceptable
2026-06-01
2026-06-08