Effects of Mifepristone on Biomarkers of Metabolic Function and Neuropsychological Performance Among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals

January 23, 2018 updated by: Natalie Rasgon, Stanford University

The purpose of this study is to study the effect of cortisol,a stress hormone in the body, on memory and attention in people with a history of depression, but who are not in the midst of a current depressive episode.

Cortisol may affect parts of the brain associated with memory and attention directly. It may also indirectly affect the brain by controlling how much insulin the body makes. Insulin is thought to impact cognition by changing the amount of sugar available in certain parts of the brain.

The investigators are studying this question by giving patients a medication, called Mifepristone, which reduces cortisol's effect on the brain. The investigators will compare results from several groups of people, including differences between men and women, and between those with and without insulin resistance.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The specific aims of this study are threefold:

  1. To evaluate the association between glucose utilization and neuropsychological performance on tests of verbal memory and attention among patients with a history of depression, but who are euthymic, at baseline;
  2. To evaluate changes in neuropsychological test performance among patients with a history of depression and who have insulin resistance who are treated with open-label mifepristone and,
  3. To explore interactions between changes in patients' glucose tolerance profiles and changes in verbal memory and attention. An exploratory aim is to explore the interaction of changes in cortisol awakening response and changes in verbal memory and attention within subjects with and without IGT, as well as the potential mediating effects of gender.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

23

Phase

  • Phase 1

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
    • California
      • Stanford, California, United States, 94102
        • Stanford University Psychiatry, 401 Quarry Rd

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

50 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 50-70
  • History of depression, not currently depressed.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  • Use of a medication that interacts with Mifepristone.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
Open-label trial to assess the effects of Mifepristone on mood and cognition in people with a history of depression.
Drug: 28 days treatment with Mifepristone.
Other Names:
  • RU486
  • Korlym

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cognition
Time Frame: 3 months
Neurocognitive testing will assess changes in memory and attention
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hamilton Score
Time Frame: 3 months
Change in hamilton score as a measure of current mood.
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Stanford University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Natalie Rasgon, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University

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

October 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 13, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 19, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

November 20, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 25, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 23, 2018

Last Verified

January 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 26482

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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