Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL) (ARTFL)

May 18, 2021 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration [ARTFL]: Research Projects 1 & 2

Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) is the neuropathological term for a collection of rare neurodegenerative diseases that correspond to four main overlapping clinical syndromes: frontotemporal dementia (FTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), corticobasal degeneration syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPS). The goal of this study is to build a FTLD clinical research consortium to support the development of FTLD therapies for new clinical trials. The consortium, referred to as Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL), will be headquartered at UCSF and will partner with six patient advocacy groups to manage the consortium. Participants will be evaluated at 14 clinical sites throughout North America and a genetics core will genotype all individuals for FTLD associated genes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) is the neuropathological term for a collection of rare neurodegenerative diseases that correspond to four main overlapping clinical syndromes: frontotemporal dementia (FTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), corticobasal degeneration syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPS). The goal of this study is to build a FTLD clinical research consortium (FTLD CRC) to support the development of FTLD therapies for new clinical trials. The FTLD CRC will be headquartered at UCSF and will partner with six patient advocacy groups to manage the consortium. Patients will be evaluated at 13 clinical sites throughout North America and a genetics core will genotype all individuals for FTLD associated genes.

The study will be divided into 2 projects. The first project will be Preparing for Sporadic FTLD Clinical Trials and the second project will be a Longitudinal Assessment of Familial FTLD. Self-registration for an online registry will be available for patients and families with any FTLD syndrome. Eligible participants for research Projects 1 and 2 FTLD will be invited to a CRC site for clinical evaluations. All enrolled participants in both research projects will have a site visit consisting of a neurological exam, medical and family history, cognitive testing, and a blood draw.

Participants in Project 1 who have a diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Syndrome will have two additional assessments. A lumbar puncture (LP) will be performed for CSF collection, and an MRI scan of the brain will be done.

Participants in Project 2: Longitudinal Assessment of familial FTLD will return for a follow-up visit in 12 months; procedures at the follow-up visit will be identical to those at baseline. Additionally, asymptomatic participants will undergo MRI scans at both visits.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

1489

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
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 2B5
        • University of British Columbia
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S8
        • University of Toronto
  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
        • University of Alabama
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
        • University of California, Los Angeles
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92037
        • University of California, San Diego
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94158
        • University of California, San Francisco
    • Florida
      • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224
        • Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern University
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Johns Hopkins University
    • Massachusetts
      • Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02129
        • Harvard University Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic - Rochester
    • Missouri
      • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
        • Washington University
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Columbia University
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
        • University of North Carolina
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • Case Western Reserve University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104-4283
        • University of Pennsylvania
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104
        • University of Washington Harborview Medical Center

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

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with a diagnosis of a frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) syndrome, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), and frontotemporal dementia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS). Family members of patients with FTLD syndromes.

Description

  1. Inclusion Criteria:Must meet one of the following research diagnostic criteria for a Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) syndrome: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), frontotemporal dementia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD/ALS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis alone, corticobasal syndrome (CBS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or oligosymptomatic PSP (oPSP), or have a strong family history of FTLD syndromes.
  2. Between 18 and 85 (inclusive) years of age.
  3. Able to walk (with assistance) at the time of enrollment.
  4. Have a reliable study partner who can provide an independent evaluation of functioning.
  5. Speak English or Spanish
  6. Have Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores between 15 - 30 (inclusive).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Known presence of a structural brain lesion (e.g. tumor,cortical infarct) that could reasonably explain symptoms in a symptomatic participant without a known f-FTLD causing mutation.
  2. Known presence of an Alzheimer's disease causing mutation in PSEN1, PSEN2 or APP; or neuropathological evidence for Alzheimer's disease as a cause of syndrome (from brain biopsy).
  3. A previous history of Korsakoff encephalopathy, severe alcohol dependence (within 5 years of onset of dementia), frequent alcohol or other substance intoxication, or other neurological disorder (such as multiple sclerosis)
  4. Evidence through history or laboratory testing of B12 deficiency (B12 < 95% of local laboratory's normal value), hypothyroidism (TSH >150% of normal), HIV positive,renal failure (creatinine > 2), liver failure (ALT or AST > two times normal), respiratory failure (requiring oxygen), extra-axial brain tumor (with visible compression of the brain parenchyma), large cerebral infarct that could account for clinical syndrome, large confluent white matter lesions (grades 3 or 4, [107] significant systemic medical illnesses such as deteriorating cardiovascular disease;
  5. Current medication likely to affect CNS functions in the opinion of the site PI: long acting benzodiazepines such as diazepam (short-acting benzodiazepines are OK), non-SSRI antidepressants (SSRIs or trazodone are OK), no lithium, typical neuroleptics as listed in the Manual of Procedures, narcotics (codeine is OK, but hold 24 hours before neuropsychological testing), anticonvulsants (outside of therapeutic ranges), antihistamines (if taking greater than three times per week; hold 24 hours before neuropsychological testing).
  6. In the site investigator's opinion, the participant cannot complete sufficient key study procedures, or equivalent assessment of impairment level.
  7. For groups where MRI scans are planned procedures, any contraindication for MRI scanning, such as pacemaker or other implanted metals.

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Patients with FTLD or family members
Participants with FTLD syndrome diagnoses and/or strong family histories of FTLD.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Scores of UDS FTLD Module Tests
Time Frame: Baseline, 12 mo.
Neuropsychological test scores from the Uniform Data Set FTLD Module will be collected and compared across patient populations.
Baseline, 12 mo.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline
Scores will be compared among patient populations
Baseline
Neuroimaging
Time Frame: Baseline; 12 months
In asymptomatic family members of FTLD patients, changes from baseline neuroimaging will be assessed 12 months later.
Baseline; 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Collaborators

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Tau Consortium
The Bluefield Project to Cure Frontotemporal Dementia

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Adam L Boxer, MD, PhD, Study PI

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 (Actual)

September 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 11, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 11, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

February 19, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 21, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2021

Last Verified

May 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ARTFL8101
  • 1U54NS092089-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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