Brain Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease

NCT00039702 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 02005802-M-0058
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine the role of certain brain chemicals in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in healthy volunteers. Cognitive dysfunction in people with AD is thought to arise from decreased chemical activity in specific parts of the brain. Decreases in alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetycholine receptors (nAChRs) have been found in the brains of people who died with AD; however, the status of this receptor system in living brains remains unclear. This study will use single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to study this receptor system in people with AD who have mild to moderate dementia and in healthy volunteers. In addition, this study will examine the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and nAChR deficits in the brains of individuals with AD. Participants with AD will have four clinic visits; healthy volunteers will have three visits. At Visit 1, participants will undergo a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Healthy volunteers will have a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) cognitive function test. Participants with AD will have a MMSE and measurement of the severity of their dementia. During Visit 2, participants will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. At Visit 3, participants will undergo SPECT imaging. Only participants with AD will participate in Visit 4. During this visit, cognitive testing will be performed.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Keywords

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors; Alzheimer's Disease; SPECT; AD; Healthy Volunteer; HV; Normal Control

Interventions

[123] 5-I-A-85380 DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• All AD patients will meet NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for probable AD with age of onset between 50 and 65 years of age.
• The AD patients will be mild to moderately demented as assessed by the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination.
• In particular, the AD patients will be nonsmokers because of known effects of smoking on nAChRs.
• Patients will be characterized by their APOE genotype as nAChR changes might be different with differing doses of this allele.
• We will not exclude AD patients from participating while they are on AChe inhibitors.

You may not qualify if:

• We will exclude patients who are on galanthamine (Reminyl).
• We will exclude patients on antidepressants and/or psychotropic drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Coyle JT, Puttfarcken P. Oxidative stress, glutamate, and neurodegenerative disorders. Science. 1993 Oct 29;262(5134):689-95. doi: 10.1126/science.7901908.

  PMID: 7901908 BACKGROUND

• Corder EH, Saunders AM, Strittmatter WJ, Schmechel DE, Gaskell PC, Small GW, Roses AD, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA. Gene dose of apolipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer's disease in late onset families. Science. 1993 Aug 13;261(5123):921-3. doi: 10.1126/science.8346443.

  PMID: 8346443 BACKGROUND

• Saunders AM, Strittmatter WJ, Schmechel D, George-Hyslop PH, Pericak-Vance MA, Joo SH, Rosi BL, Gusella JF, Crapper-MacLachlan DR, Alberts MJ, et al. Association of apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4 with late-onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 1993 Aug;43(8):1467-72. doi: 10.1212/wnl.43.8.1467.

  PMID: 8350998 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Interventions

5-iodo-3-(2-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 6, 2002
• First Posted: June 7, 2002
• Study Start: June 1, 2002
• Study Completion: September 1, 2004
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2004-09

Locations

US (1)