Vyvanse May Improve Memory Lapse in Postmenopausal Women

Preliminary results from a University of Pennsylvania study show the stimulant Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) improves memory lapses in postmenopausal women.

In their double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, researchers at UPenn’s Perelman School of Medicine observed 30 women aged 48-60 years who reportedly had trouble focusing and multitasking within 5 years postmenopause. Over an 8-week study period, the investigators administered once-daily lisdexamfetamine dimesylate for 4 weeks, which were followed by 4 weeks of placebo treatment. They observed changes in verbal recall, working memory, and attention tasks.

With the exception of managing affective interference, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate treatment produced significant improvements in memory-related symptoms, specifically regarding organization and motivation to work.

“While some individuals experienced no improvement with (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), we were heartened by these findings and hope to examine the genetic profile of our participants in the near future to determine whether there are predictors regarding who is most likely to experience improvement with this kind of treatment,” study contributor C. Neil Epperson, MD, said in a statement.

Epperson also commented on the stimulant’s capabilities in patients whose symptoms are not improved by estradiol treatment.

“We know that estradiol treatment is helpful in only a subset of the population of menopausal women with cognitive and mood complaints and for many women estradiol treatment is not an option due to their medical history,” Epperson said. “It is crucial that we identify treatment options for those women who experience significant changes in cognition during this transition, whether it occurs naturally or is induced by surgery or chemotherapies.”