Treatment for Early Memory Loss

February 27, 2014 updated by: University of Iowa

Cognitive Enhancers Explored With PET Imaging

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of donepezil (Aricept) for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly adults. This study will also determine whether adding ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) enhances the effects of donepezil.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Cognition involves important thinking processes such as perception, learning, and reasoning. There are currently no definitive treatments for cognitive deterioration. This study focuses on elderly individuals with MCI because people at a pre-dementia stage may sustain the greatest and most lasting benefit from cognitive-enhancing agents.

Patients receive either donepezil or placebo for the first 6 months of the study. In the second 6 months of the study, patients are randomized to receive either donepezil plus GBE or donepezil alone. Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which provides a color-coded image of the brain's blood flow in a particular area, is used to assess brain activity during memory tasks. A PET scan is performed at study entry, 6 months, and 1 year. A vasodilator (a drug that dilates the blood vessels) is administered during the PET imaging procedure to determine whether vascular disease affects memory function. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is also taken to view the brain.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

40

Phase

  • Phase 4

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

  • United States
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry

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

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Display impairment on at least 2 of 3 memory tests
  • Meet the following criteria for mild cognitive impairment: subjective complaint of memory problems; no impairment in activities of daily living; general cognitive function in the normal age-adjusted range; abnormal memory function for age; and lacking full DSM criteria for dementia

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have a history of major neurological, metabolic, psychiatric or cardiovascular disease (patients with a history of non-CNS oncologic disease treated surgically and currently in remission will not be excluded)
  • Have a cerebrovascular condition
  • Abuse alcohol or drugs
  • Have renal or hepatic disease, diabetes mellitus, gout, or adrenocortical insufficiency
  • Are sensitive to carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, antibacterial sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, or other sulfonamide-derivative diuretics
  • Have taken donepezil or GBE products prior to enrollment
  • Have taken medications, including herbal agents (exceptions will be made for routine health maintenance medications such as alendronate [Fosamax] for osteoporosis, vitamin therapy [not to exceed 200 percent RDA for any particular vitamin], thyroid replacement therapy, hormone replacement, and ophthalmic medications for glaucoma and other eye disorders)

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Iowa

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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

June 1, 2002

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2004

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 24, 2002

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 25, 2002

First Posted (Estimate)

July 26, 2002

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 3, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 27, 2014

Last Verified

February 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R21MH061801 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • DSIR AT-GP

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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