Duke Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Depression in Late Life

NCT00576875 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Pro00007678
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 795
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The proposed Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience of Depression will focus on understanding the neurobiological mechanism of depression. A total of 5 projects are proposed. The center is focused on a single hypothesis. The first project examines localization of lesions, structural changes in critical regions subserving the circuit, alterations in the white matter tracts relevant to the circuit and changes in glutamate. The second project uses post mortem cell counting and cellular localization in serotonin receptors and assessment of the type of cell loss in the orbitofrontal cortex. The third project uses cognitive paradigms and functional MRI to probe the circuit and the role of brain lesions and serotonin on the functioning of this circuit. The fourth project uses transgenic and knockout mice to examine to role of norepinephrine and serotonin as it relates to the circuit. The final project is designed to assess in these transgenic mice using multielectrode array of single neuron recordings of the firing pattern of the circuit neurons in various states and tasks and the role of monoamines in modulating this circuit.

Conditions

Major Depression

Keywords

Depression; Elderly; Neuroimaging; Postmortem; Knockout mouse

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Each of the projects in the Duke Conte Center has its own aims and primary outcomes

  Up to five years

Study Arms (2)

Depressed

Older individuals with major depression

Non-depressed

Older individuals without major depression

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Primary care clinic; Outpatient psychiatry clinic; Inpatient psychiatry clinic; Self-referral

You may qualify if:

• For depressed group:
• Age \> 60 years
• Major depression, single episode or recurrent
• Ability to read and write English
• MMSE \>25
• Willingness to participate in the follow-up study for at least two years.
• For non-depressed group:
• Age \> 60 years
• Ability to read and write English
• MMSE \>25
• Willingness to participate in the follow-up study for at least two years

You may not qualify if:

• Lifetime alcohol or drug dependence
• Conditions associated with MRI abnormalities such hydrocephalus, benign and cancerous brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, dementia, demyelinating diseases, etc.
• Endocrine disorder (other than diabetes mellitus)
• Any physical or intellectual disability that may affect completion of self rating instruments
• Established clinical diagnosis of dementia
• Other primary psychiatric disorders, including panic disorder, social phobia, OCD, non-affective psychosis (including schizo-affective disorder), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
• Any metal or pacemaker in the body which precludes MRI.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duke University: lead
• University of Mississippi Medical Center: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

Location

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Blood for DNA; Post-mortem brain tissue

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Ranga R Krishnan, MB, ChB

  Duke University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 18, 2007
• First Posted: December 19, 2007
• Study Start: August 1, 2006
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2011
• Study Completion: July 1, 2011
• Last Updated: February 22, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-02

Locations

US (1)