IMProving Executive Function Study (IMPRES)

Multi-Modal Imaging of Psychostimulant Effects on Executive Function Post-RRSO

This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study testing whether Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine; LDX) improves executive functioning (EF) in 100 postmenopausal women who report onset of EF difficulties after oophorectomy. This study involves magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to see how LDX affects brain chemistry while undergoing two 6-week trials of the study drug and placebo capsules.

UPDATE: We have recently updated this protocol (09/2020) to offer a remote version of the study that can be completed entirely from the participant's home. This alternate version of the study eliminates travel, the MRI, and blood draws.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; RRSO
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Lisdexamfetamine; Drug: Placebo oral capsule

Detailed Description

Following a medically induced menopause, many women report difficulty in remembering things, focusing and concentrating. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a stimulant medication called Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine; LDX) on executive functioning, such as attention, processing, organization, and memory, in women who are experiencing executive functioning difficulties after having undergone a risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). This study involves magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to see how LDX affects brain chemistry while undergoing two 6-week trials of the study drug and placebo capsules.

Individuals wishing to participate in this study are medically healthy women between the ages of 35-58 years old who have undergone a risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) within the previous 15 years. Participants must have been premenopausal before undergoing RRSO (meaning they were having regular periods). They also must not have undergone radiation or chemotherapy in the past year.

Furthermore, participants must not suffer from a mental illness, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and must not have a recent history of drug abuse. Additionally, participants must not suffer from a fear of small, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), and not have any implanted medical devices such as a pacemaker, orthodontic braces, or shrapnel. They must not have a history of seizures, uncontrolled hypertension or known renal impairment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 69
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • 3535 Market Street

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 35 years to 58 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female;
• Age 35-58;
• Have undergone risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) within the previous 15 years AND were premenopausal at the time of RRSO;
• Score of ≥ 20 on the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS);
• Onset of executive function difficulties occurred post RRSO;
• Clean urine drug screen (nicotine and marijuana are permissible);
• Are fluent in written and spoken English;
• Are able to give written informed consent (obtained at screening visit);
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent degree (i.e., GED), as per subject report;
• If using aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen: Must have been on a stable dose for at least 6 months;
• If completing visits remotely: Must have access to a telecommunications application (i.e., Skype), email, scanner/fax machine, and a private area that enables the protection of participant confidentiality.

Exclusion criteria:

• Current, untreated psychiatric disorder;
• Substance use disorder within the previous 3 years;
• Lifetime history of ADHD or psychotic disorder including bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia;
• Lifetime history of stimulant abuse or dependence;
• Regular use of psychotropic medications except selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), bupropion, zolpidem, gabapentin, or buspirone;
• Chemotherapy within the past year;
• Previous history of sensitivity or adverse reaction to lisdexamfetamine (LDX);
• History of seizures or unstable medical condition;
• Known heart disease or clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram during screening as determined by the study MD;
• Uncontrolled hypertension;
• Presence of a metallic implant contraindicative to scanning at the 7T level;
• Claustrophobia.
• Consistent systolic blood pressure of >145mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg after three readings at time of screening;
• Known renal impairment and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Lisdexamfetamine, then Placebo; Participants will have a 50% chance of first receiving the active study medication. They will begin at 20 mg/d and will increase up to 60 mg/d after 4 weeks, if well tolerated. Total time on the study drug is up to 6 weeks. After a washout period of 2 weeks they will begin with 1 sugar pill and will increase up to 3 pills after 4 weeks. Maximum time for taking the placebo is 6 weeks.	Drug: Lisdexamfetamine; Stimulant medications are used to reduce interruptive behavior, fidgeting, and other hyperactive symptoms, as well as help a person finish tasks and improve his or her relationships for adults who have ADHD. Please note that the FDA has not approved the use of Vyvanse® for the treatment of memory and concentration difficulties related to medically induced menopause.; Other Names: Vyvanse; Drug: Placebo oral capsule; The placebo capsule will be filled with microcellulose.; Other Names: sugar pill
Experimental: Placebo, then Lisdexamfetamine; Participants will have a 50% chance of first receiving the placebo, beginning with 1 sugar pill and increasing up to 3 pills after 4 weeks. Maximum time for taking the placebo is 6 weeks. After a washout period of 2 weeks, they will begin active study medication at 20 mg/d and will increase up to 60 mg/d after 4 weeks, if well tolerated. Total time on the study drug is up to 6 weeks.	Drug: Lisdexamfetamine; Stimulant medications are used to reduce interruptive behavior, fidgeting, and other hyperactive symptoms, as well as help a person finish tasks and improve his or her relationships for adults who have ADHD. Please note that the FDA has not approved the use of Vyvanse® for the treatment of memory and concentration difficulties related to medically induced menopause.; Other Names: Vyvanse; Drug: Placebo oral capsule; The placebo capsule will be filled with microcellulose.; Other Names: sugar pill

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) Change Score (End of Trial Minus Baseline).	The Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) (Brown, 1996) is a 40-item questionnaire that assesses five subscales of executive functioning. For each item in the questionnaire, participants reported the extent to which it had been a problem over the last six months (0 = never, 1 = once a week or less, 2 = twice a week, or 3 = almost daily). Total BADDS scores can range from 0-120, with higher scores indicating more self-reported difficulties with executive functioning. Outcome measures are reported as change scores for end of trial (6 weeks) minus baseline.	Outcome measure change score represents end of trial (6 weeks) minus baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brain Activation (Glutamate Contrast)	To measure the effects of Lisdexamfetamine on objective report of executive function difficulties proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was utilized to assess the relative importance of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) glutamate (Glut) contrast levels during working memory task performance. Measurement of glutamate contrast range from 0 to 15% with higher levels associated with optimal performance. Glutamate contrast is calculated by: GluCEST contrast (%) = [(Msat(-3ppm) - Msat(+3ppm))/Msat(-3ppm)]*100.	6 weeks
Brain Activation (BOLD Percent Signal Change)	To measure the effects of Lisdexamfetamine on objective report of executive function difficulties functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were utilized to assess the relative importance of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) blood oxygen dependent (BOLD) signals during working memory task performance and the effect of LDX on the executive system activation. Measurement of BOLD perecent signal change range is 0 to 2%. Percent signal change is the difference in fMRI signal between the baseline condition (B) and the task condition (T) and calculated here as: percent signal change = (T-B)/B×100%. Higher percent signal change in the DLPFC is generally associated with better executive function.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: C. Neill Epperson, MD, University of Pennsylvania

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Shanmugan S, Loughead J, Nanga RP, Elliott M, Hariharan H, Appleby D, Kim D, Ruparel K, Reddy R, Brown TE, Epperson CN. Lisdexamfetamine Effects on Executive Activation and Neurochemistry in Menopausal Women with Executive Function Difficulties. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Jan;42(2):437-445. doi: 10.1038/npp.2016.162. Epub 2016 Aug 23.
• Epperson CN, Shanmugan S, Kim DR, Mathews S, Czarkowski KA, Bradley J, Appleby DH, Iannelli C, Sammel MD, Brown TE. New onset executive function difficulties at menopause: a possible role for lisdexamfetamine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Aug;232(16):3091-100. doi: 10.1007/s00213-015-3953-7. Epub 2015 Jun 11.
• Brown, T. E. 1996. Brown attention deficit disorder scales for adolescents and adults, San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

Helpful Links

• Research at the Penn Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 22, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): June 14, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 17, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 30, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Memory; Cognition; Oophorectomy; RRSO; Cognitive complaints; Early menopause
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Dopamine Agents; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate
• Other Study ID Numbers: 826981

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No