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The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the world’s
largest professional association of neurologists, is
releasing a position paper on how the practice of
prescribing drugs to boost cognitive function, or
memory and thinking abilities, in healthy children
and teens is misguided. The statement is published
in the March 13, 2013, online issue of Neurology,
the medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology.
This growing trend, in which teens use “study drugs”
before tests and parents request ADHD drugs for kids
who don’t meet the criteria for the disorder, has
made headlines recently in the United States. The
Academy has spent the past several years analyzing
all of the available research and ethical issues to
develop this official position paper.
“Doctors caring for children and teens have a
professional obligation to always protect the best
interests of the child, to protect vulnerable
populations, and prevent the misuse of medication,”
said author William Graf, MD, of Yale University in
New Haven, Conn., and a member of the American
Academy of Neurology. “The practice of prescribing
these drugs, called neuroenhancements, for healthy
students is not justifiable.”
The statement provides evidence that points to
dozens of ethical, legal, social and developmental
reasons why prescribing mind-enhancing drugs, such
as those for ADHD, for healthy people is viewed
differently in children and adolescents than it
would be in functional, independent adults with full
decision-making capacities. The Academy has a
separate position statement that addresses the use
of neuroenhancements in adults.
The article notes many reasons against prescribing
neuroenhancement including: the child’s best
interest; the long-term health and safety of
neuroenhancements, which has not been studied in
children; kids and teens may lack complete
decision-making capacities while their cognitive
skills, emotional abilities and mature judgments are
still developing; maintaining doctor-patient trust;
and the risks of over-medication and dependency.
“The physician should talk to the child about the
request, as it may reflect other medical, social or
psychological motivations such as anxiety,
depression or insomnia. There are alternatives to
neuroenhancements available, including maintaining
good sleep, nutrition, study habits and exercise
regimens,” said Graf.
The statement had no industry sponsors.
For more information
View the full statement at:
http://neurology.org/lookup/doi/10.1212/WNL.0b013e318289703b
View the AAN’s full statement on neuroenhancements
and adults at:
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2009/09/23/WNL.0b013e3181beecfe.full.pdf
(MDN)
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