D-aspartate and Therapeutic Exercise
DAsp&TerapEx
Promotion of Synaptic Plasticity With D-Aspartate to Favour Recovery Form Cerebral Damage
1 other identifier
interventional
100
1 country
1
Brief Summary
An important mechanism responsible for clinical recovery after neurological damage of different types is synaptic plasticity. Nervous tissue can enhance or de-energize inter-neuronal transmission at synaptic level in a lasting way. By increasing the efficiency of synaptic transmission, through long-term potentiation (LTP), it is possible to compensate for the loss of synaptic pulses on survived neurons due to brain damage and to restore their function. At synaptic level, LTP is mainly regulated by NMDA receptors. In animal models induction of plasticity in surviving neurons through the stimulation of NMDA receptors has been shown to limit the clinical manifestations of neuronal damage. Endogenous NMDA is synthesized by methylation of D-aspartate (Asp) by D-aspartatoartate methyltransferase . Moreover, Asp acts as a neurotransmitter capable of activating the NMDA receptor, since its biosynthesis, degradation, absorption and release occurs in the pre-synaptic neuron, and its release determines a response in Post-synaptic neurons. The expression of Asp in the SNC is very abundant during the embryonic period and in early years, whereas it is significantly reduced in adulthood. Consistent with Asp ability of activating the NMDA receptor, recent studies have shown that oral administration of Asp increases LTP induction in mice. Preliminary studies by our group also showed an increase in LTP amplitude in subjects suffering from progressive forms of Multiple Sclerosis after 2 weeks of daily per os intake of 2660mg Asp. It is also well known that the therapeutic exercise that characterizes a rehabilitative treatment is able to induce various benefits to the physical-functional and the cognitive-emotional spheres. In this regard, it has been extensively demonstrated how repeatedly performing a motor task can increase cortical excitability through the induction of LTP mechanisms. Hypothesis Pharmacologically promoting the induction of cortical LTP by the intake of Asp in subjects with various types of brain damage (eg Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia) may favor the therapeutic effects of rehabilitative treatment. Specific Objectives Evaluate the effects of Asp in improving the outcome of rehabilitative treatment resulting from brain damage of different origin.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for early_phase_1
Started Nov 2017
Longer than P75 for early_phase_1
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
July 12, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 25, 2017
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
November 22, 2017
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2020
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2022
CompletedMarch 15, 2019
March 1, 2019
2.6 years
July 12, 2017
March 13, 2019
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (11)
Barthel's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (O'Sullivan et al 2007)
quality of life
up to 3 years
FIM
Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) (Chumney et al., 2010)
up to 3 years
stroke
NIH Stroke Scale / Score (NIHSS)
up to 3 years
disability
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (Kurtzke, 1983)
up to 3 years
parkinson
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Rammer et al. )
up to 3 years
depression
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck, 1972)
up to 3 years
neuronal plasticity
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) will be used to evaluate the change of neuronal plasticity in a subgroup of patients who will not present contraindications to the method. The TMS uses short-lived magnetic fields and high intensity applied at the scalp level to activate the neurons of a small region of the cerebral cortex through an electromagnetic induction. When these impulses are applied repeatedly, it is possible to induce plastic modification of cortical excitability. If these changes are induced at the level of the motor cortex, they can be measured by recording a motor evoked potential (MEP) at the muscle level represented at the stimulated region level. Any increase or decrease in AMP amplitude, which persists after the end of TMS repetitive stimulation, indicates that there have been changes in the cortical, LTP or depression (LTD).
up to 3 years
locomotion and posture
Stabilometric Platform
up to 3 years
locomotion and posture
Gait Analysis
up to 3 years
deglutition
Ectrophysiological and the Fibroendoscopic Deglutition Study
up to 3 years
Cognition
ad-hoc tasks
up to 3 years
Study Arms (2)
D-aspartato+ET
EXPERIMENTALPatients will be administered oral D-aspartate (2660 mg once daily) for 6 weks. Moreover, patients will receive therapeutic exercise.
Placebo+ET
PLACEBO COMPARATORPatients will be administered oral placebo for 6 weks. Moreover, patients will receive therapeutic exercise.
Interventions
Patients will be randomized to receive oral D-aspartatoe (2660 mg, once daily) or placebo,as an addition to conventional therapy as indicated by physicians, for a 6 weeks period.
Standard physiotherapy
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Males or females aged between 18 and 80;
- Presence of brain damage resulting from: Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, Cranial Trauma, Neurosurgery, Stroke, Epilepsy, or Other Neurological Syndromes;
- Patient's ability to adhere to the rehabilitation treatment provided for his / her clinical condition by competent personnel;
- Female subjects can not be pregnant, can not breastfeed, have been born at least three months before the beginning of the study, undertake not to schedule a pregnancy for the duration of the study;
- Patients should be able to follow protocol guidelines throughout the study;
- Patients should be able to understand the aims and risks of the study;
- Signature of informed consent, approved by our Ethics Committee.
You may not qualify if:
- Tumors or systemic infections;
- Patients with impaired hepatic function (ALT\> 3 x ULN, Alcaline Phosphatase\> 2 x ULN, bilirubin tot\> 2 x ULN if associated with any increase in ALT or alkaline phosphatase); Severe or moderate renal failure;
- Other contraindications or hypersensitivity to D-aspartate or its excipients;
- Patients with other pathologies which, according to the scientific officer's opinion, prevent recruitment;
- Patients unable to even partially understand and want.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Neuromed IRCCSlead
Study Sites (1)
IRCCS Neuromed
Pozzilli, Isernia, 86077, Italy
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MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- early phase 1
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Principal Investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
July 12, 2017
First Posted
July 25, 2017
Study Start
November 22, 2017
Primary Completion
July 1, 2020
Study Completion
December 1, 2022
Last Updated
March 15, 2019
Record last verified: 2019-03
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share