Cognitive Dysfunction and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists (COGDYS-GLP1)

May 11, 2016 updated by: University Health Network, Toronto

Exploring the Neural Substrates of Cognitive Dysfunction With Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists

Cognitive deficits are a core feature across disparate brain disorders, being highly prevalent and pervasive. Impairments in executive function are one of the most consistent findings in clinical and meta-analytical studies and were reported to be a principal mediator of psychosocial impairment and disability. Cognitive dysfunction is thought to be underlied by abnormalities in distributed brain circuits, at the cellular and molecular levels. Nonetheless, the neural mechanisms underlying the dysregulation in these circuits are poorly understood. Emerging evidence indicates that metabolic abnormalities are highly relevant for the domain of cognitive function and indicate that alterations in metabolic pathways may be relevant to neurocognitive decline across different populations. The incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone secreted by intestinal epithelial cells. GLP-1 receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous systems. Pre-clinical trials have demonstrated significant neuroprotective effects of GLP-1. Ongoing clinical trials measuring cognition and mood in populations with various psychiatric disorders lend further impetus to explore the effects of GLP-1R agonists on brain structure and cognitive function. We hypothesize that GLP-1 and the GLP-1R are relevant for molecular and cellular processes that are thought to underlie the formation and maintenance of brain circuits. A derivative of this hypothesis is that the administration of GLP-1 agonists may result in enhanced neuronal survival and consequential increase in gray matter volume. We therefore propose to explore the cellular and molecular abnormalities within and between neural circuits subserving cognition using the GLP-1R agonist liraglutide.

The overall goal of this study is to explore the relationship between a metabolic molecular target (i.e. the GLP1 system), the neural circuits of interest and the behavioral phenotype cognitive function.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

We propose to explore the effects of GLP-1 agonism on brain structure and function. We hypothesize that the administration of GLP-1 agonists may result in increased connectivity in the executive control network. Multiple clinical trials with pharmacological agents, as well as cognitive therapy, have reported that measurements of brain structure and function are correlated with cognitive performance, indicating that they are a valid biological correlate of cognitive function. To assess this hypothesis we will recruit a clinical population, represented by individuals with a measurable impairment in executive function, wherein the target of our proposed intervention was shown to be altered.

We are currently not in a position to sufficiently homogenize subgroups of adults with mood disorder on the basis of any single or combinatorial biomarkers. It is also unlikely that alterations in GLP-1 receptor function, and the proposed model herein, is sufficiently explanatory to all sub-populations of adults with mood disorders. Instead, we propose that adults with mood disorders, who have co-existing metabolic disorders (e.g. type 2 diabetes mellitus), would be more likely to have a brain illness that is influenced by (i.e. cause, consequence or both) alterations in cellular bioenergetics. Moreover, convergent evidence suggest that GLP-1 receptor function may be, at least partially, dependent on glucose levels and/or insulin sensibility. It is a separate, yet testable, hypothesis that subpopulations enriched on the basis of having metabolic comorbidity (i.e. insulin resistance) may be more responsive to an intervention that targets a metabolic pathway.

We plan to test the effects of adjunctive liraglutide on executive function. We will select a subpopulation of patients, with a mood disorder and impairment in executive function, as defined by a below-average (i.e. 1 standard deviation below norm) performance in the Trail Making Test-B (TMTB). Furthermore, we plan to recruit two groups of patients, with and without insulin resistance, as defined by a homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) above 2.5, which will allow a comparison of the effects of liraglutide in a metabolically heterogeneous population.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
21

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S8
        • Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Informed consent before study-related activity
  2. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 who meet DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorders or depressive disorders
  3. Below-average (i.e. 1 standard deviation below norm) performance in the TMTB.
  4. Individuals must be receiving guideline concordant pharmacotherapy, in stable doses, without withdrawal or addition of medication in the last month.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosis of possible or probable AD, MCI, or any other dementia
  2. History of neurological disorder (ischemic attacks, carotid bruits, or lacunes upon MRI scan), or evidence of neurologic or other physical illness that could produce cognitive deterioration
  3. Individuals in a severe mood episode, defined as a Hamilton Depression Rating scale 17- item (HAMD-17) total score of >23 or a Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score of >20.
  4. Actively suicidal or evaluated as being a suicide risk (operationalized as a score of ≥3 on HAMD-17 suicide item and/or by clinical assessment).
  5. Substance use disorder within 3 months before screening or a positive baseline toxicology screen.
  6. Currently being treated for diabetes, with oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin, as these medications affect glucose and insulin levels, as well as the HOMA-IR calculation.
  7. Presence of absolute or relative contraindication to liraglutide (e.g. hepatic impairment, renal impairment with CKD stage 3 and above, personal or familial history of medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2)
  8. History of alcoholism; history of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer
  9. Presence of clinically unstable general medical illness.
  10. Pregnancy or breastfeeding women.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Insulin Resistance
Adjunctive Liraglutide 1.2-1.8mg/day
Biological: Liraglutide
Study participants will received the following study intervention in addition to 'standard of care' treatment: Adjunctive liraglutide will be initiated at 0.6 mg for the first 1 week, then increased to 1.2 mg with the option of increasing to 1.8 mg thereafter based on efficacy/tolerability (n=15 in each group). Liraglutide will be adjunctively administered to a conventional antidepressant, antipsychotic and mood stabilizing agent at guideline-concordant therapeutic plasma levels. Subjects will be randomized to receive liraglutide for a 4 week period. No major change in the pharmacological regimen will be permitted during the 4 week trial unless required for medical reasons.
Active Comparator: Non-Insulin Resistance
Adjunctive Liraglutide 1.2-1.8mg/day
Biological: Liraglutide
Study participants will received the following study intervention in addition to 'standard of care' treatment: Adjunctive liraglutide will be initiated at 0.6 mg for the first 1 week, then increased to 1.2 mg with the option of increasing to 1.8 mg thereafter based on efficacy/tolerability (n=15 in each group). Liraglutide will be adjunctively administered to a conventional antidepressant, antipsychotic and mood stabilizing agent at guideline-concordant therapeutic plasma levels. Subjects will be randomized to receive liraglutide for a 4 week period. No major change in the pharmacological regimen will be permitted during the 4 week trial unless required for medical reasons.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Executive function
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The primary efficacy variable will be mean change from baseline to week 4 on executive function performance, as measured by Trail Making Test B.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Resting-state functional network connectivity
Time Frame: 4 weeks
We will evaluate the effects of liraglutide on functional connectivity (i.e. the degree of correlation of the time series of activation between distributed neuronal areas) within and between key components of the executive control network, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex, as well as other regions of interest, such as the hippocampus.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Roger S McIntyre, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 17, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 17, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 22, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2016

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 14-8561-A

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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