Serotonergic Function and Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia

May 2, 2017 updated by: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration(FTLD) is a common cause of early-onset dementia. FTLD is characterized multiple behavioral symptoms including mental rigidity, irritability, emotional blunting, disinhibition, apathy, and aggression. These behavioural disturbances are particularly important because they increase caregiver burden and may lead to earlier institutionalization. While the causes of FTLD are largely unknown, there is a great deal of evidence suggesting that a brain chemical called serotonin regulates many of the behaviours that are disturbed in FTLD. Our objective is therefore to determine whether dysfunction in the brain's serotonin system is responsible for behavioural problems among FTLD patients. We hope to take the first steps towards a scientific understanding of the behavioural symptoms of FTD, and use our findings to support a larger study optimizing the treatment of targeted behavioural disturbances in FTLD using the antidepressant citalopram.

Citalopram increases transmission by serotonin; we plan to use this medication to determine whether there are any differences in how the serotonin system functions in FTLD patients who display different levels of behavioural disturbances. Patients will be given citalopram and will have their blood drawn after 2 and 3 hours to determine plasma levels of the hormones cortisol and prolactin at those times. These hormones are good indicators of serotonergic functioning in the central nervous system.

We expect that patients with lower levels of serotonergic functioning will have more severe behavioural disturbances and be less responsive to treatment with citalopram. Following their first test day, we will provide patients with a 6-week supply of citalopram, and assess them for any changes in behaviour at the end of this treatment.

This study aims to obtain a better understanding of how changes in the serotonin system relate to behavioural symptoms in FTLD patients. Using the information from this pilot study, we can plan a larger study to determine whether certain behaviours will respond to treatment with citalopram, and if so, determine whether it is possible to predict which patients, based on individual characteristics, are most likely to respond to this treatment. This methodology will therefore not only provide a scientific rationale for treatment of FTLD, but also provide guidance for ongoing, individualized therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Objectives: A hallmark of frontotemporal lobar degeneration(FTLD) is its associated behavioural disturbances (BPSD), which include disinhibition, aggression, apathy, agitation, depression, and inappropriate affect. Current evidence suggests that secondary changes in the serotonergic system may be key to many of the symptoms of FTLD. Our primary objective is to evaluate the ability of serotonergic dysfunction, as measured through oral citalopram challenge, to predict subsequent behavioural response to pharmacotherapy with citalopram. As a secondary objective, we will explore the relationship between specific BPSDs and the level of serotonergic dysfunction.

Hypotheses: We predict that patients with FTLD who respond to citalopram pharmacotherapy will show greater dysfunction in the serotonergic system, as measured by citalopram challenge, than patients who do not respond. This hypothesis will be evaluated in vivo using peak change in plasma concentrations of cortisol and prolactin as indicators of serotonergic dysfunction following oral citalopram challenge.

Research Plan: A consecutive sample of patients attending FTLD clinics who exhibit significant BPSD will be recruited into this study.Because serotonin promotes cortisol and prolactin secretion via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, these hormones have been shown to be a reliable marker of serotonergic functioning. Their levels will therefore be measured from blood samples taken at baseline and 2 and 3 hours after the administration of 20 mg citalopram. Changes in cortisol levels after citalopram administration will be used as the primary measure of serotonergic functioning. We expect to find an inverse correlation between the cortisol response to citalopram challenge and the severity of BPSD according to the total Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score. Subsequent to the citalopram challenge, participants will be treated for their BPSD with open-label citalopram (20-40 mg) for 6 weeks. At the end of this period, patients will be re-assessed with the NPI. The magnitude of response, based on changes in NPI scores, will be correlated with the citalopram challenge test results. It is expected that patients who show more severe serotonergic dysfunction will have a better response to daily citalopram treatment.

Relevance: The results of this study will further the scientific understanding of the neurochemical basis underlying BPSD in FTLD. To date, the treatment of FTLD patients has relied largely on the understanding of treatments for other dementias, due to the lack of research in the area of FTLD. Therefore, our work may aid in the development of targeted therapies specific to FTLD.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

22

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

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5
        • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6A 2E1
        • The Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

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

16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meet the DSM-IV criteria for primary degenerative dementia
  • Meet standard clinical criteria for frontotemporal dementia (ie., frontotemporal degeneration including both the frontal/behavioural variant and primary progressive aphasia)
  • Have significant behavioural problems as demonstrated by a score of at least eight on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) an
  • An independent clinical decision to receive psychotropic medication for behavioural disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

  • An abnormal biochemical screening (blood cell count, vitamin B12 or thyroid function tests)
  • Significant medical illness or other medical/neurological conditions which diminish cognitive function (including: drug overdose, severely disturbed liver, kidney, lung or heart function, anemia, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, syphilis, uncontrolled diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, progressive supranuclear paralysis, brain tumour, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or brain trauma);
  • An Hachinski ischemic score ≥444;
  • Electrocardiographic, laboratory or physical evidence of significant cardiovascular disease;
  • Hypertension >160 mmHg systolic or >100 mmHg diastolic;
  • A brain computed tomographic scan that could not be interpreted as consistent with FTLD;
  • Presence of premorbid or current psychiatric diagnosis (including: major depression, schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms of a severity likely to provoke violent or dangerous behaviour such as command hallucinations to harm people or persecutory delusions that provoke violent reactions, psychoactive substance abuse or dependence);
  • Contraindications to receiving citalopram (such as concomitant MAOI or within 2 weeks, or hypersensitivity to citalopram); or
  • Ongoing need for psychotropic medications (i.e., unsuitable for washout) or administration of a depot antipsychotic injection within one treatment cycle of visit 1

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)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
Time Frame: Screening, Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Screening, Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 weeks
Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 weeks
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)
Time Frame: Screening, 4 week, 6 week
Screening, 4 week, 6 week
Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale (DAD)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Functional Assessment Staging (FAST)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks
Baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Collaborators

Alzheimer Society of Canada

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

September 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

September 14, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 2, 2017

Last Verified

November 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 218-2006
  • 07-48

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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