The Locus Coeruleus & Memory

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The cause of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, remains unknown. Neuropathological studies suggest that a small area in the brainstem, the locus coeruleus, might be the site of the onset of the disease. This area is the sole source of noradrenalin to the brain, a neurotransmitter involved in arousal, but also cognitive functions. Animal and pharmacological studies have hinted towards an important role of this area in memory functioning. However, these studies were hampered by the limited spatial resolution, making it hard to clearly localize the locus coeruleus in the brain. New developments in brain imaging allow now to visualize the brain with stunning precision. Furthermore, a non-invasive new stimulation method, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, is believed to excite the locus coeruleus and thereby influencing neuronal networks and memory functioning.

There are three aims in this project:

1. To investigate how the functional interaction between the locus coeruleus and other brain areas, in particular the medial temporal lobe areas, during memory processes (encoding, consolidation and retrieval) change with development of Alzheimer's disease.

2. To investigate associations between noradrenaline, memory performance and brain functioning. The investigators aim to investigate how acute noradrenalin levels change during the different memory processes and whether or not this is beneficial for performance. Furthermore, the investigators will investigate whether this interaction between noradrenalin, memory performance and brain functioning is different healthy older individuals (n =35) or patients with prodromal Alzheimer's disease (n =35).

3. To investigate the underlying neural network changes during transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation. The investigators will focus on differences in functional connectivity between the locus coeruleus and the medial temporal lobe areas in healthy older individuals and prodromal Alzheimer's disease patients. An experimental condition will be compared with a sham condition in a pseudo-randomized cross-over design.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT02363504
Study type	Observational [Patient Registry]
Source	Maastricht University Medical Center
Contact	Heidi Jacobs, PhD
Phone	+31433884090
Email	h.jacobs@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Status	Recruiting
Phase
Start date	February 1, 2017
Completion date	December 2020

View Details

See also
Status	Clinical Trial	Phase
Completed	`NCT05040048` - Taxonomy of Neurodegenerative Diseases : Observational Study in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease
Withdrawn	`NCT03316898` - A FDG-PET Study of AGN-242071 Added to Standard-of-Care (Donepezil ± Memantine) for the Treatment of Participants With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease	Phase 1
Withdrawn	`NCT02860065` - CPC-201 Alzheimer's Disease Type Dementia: PET Study	Phase 2
Completed	`NCT01315639` - New Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic	N/A
Not yet recruiting	`NCT03740178` - Multiple Dose Trial of MK-4334 in Participants With Alzheimer's Clinical Syndrome (MK-4334-005)	Phase 1
Recruiting	`NCT05607615` - A 6-Month Study to Evaluate the Safety & Potential Efficacy of Trappsol Cyclo in Patients With Early Alzheimer's Disease	Phase 2
Terminated	`NCT03307993` - Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Study in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease	Phase 1
Recruiting	`NCT02912936` - A Medium Chain Triglyceride Intervention for Patients With Alzheimer Disease	N/A
Active, not recruiting	`NCT02899091` - Evaluation of the Safety and Potential Therapeutic Effects of CB-AC-02 in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease	Phase 1/Phase 2
Not yet recruiting	`NCT02868905` - Identification of Epigenetic Markers Common to Obesity and Alzheimer's Disease in Women	N/A
Completed	`NCT02907567` - Clinical Trial of CT1812 in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease	Phase 1/Phase 2
Terminated	`NCT02521558` - Effectiveness of Home-based Electronic Cognitive Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease	N/A
Completed	`NCT02516046` - 18F-AV-1451 Autopsy Study	Phase 3
Completed	`NCT02580305` - SUVN-502 With Donepezil and Memantine for the Treatment of Moderate Alzheimer's Disease- Phase 2a Study	Phase 2
Recruiting	`NCT02247180` - Cognitive Rehabilitation in Alzheimer`s Disease	N/A
Completed	`NCT02260167` - Treatment of Alzheimer's and Dementia With the Metabolism, Infections, Nutrition, Drug Elimination (MIND) Protocol	N/A
Completed	`NCT02256306` - The PLasma for Alzheimer SymptoM Amelioration (PLASMA) Study	N/A
Terminated	`NCT02220738` - Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of ABT-957 in Subjects With Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease on Stable Doses of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors	Phase 1
Completed	`NCT02317523` - Alzheimer's Caregiver Coping: Mental and Physical Health	N/A
Not yet recruiting	`NCT01940952` - Zydena on Cognitive Function of Alzheimer's Disease Patients	Phase 3

Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.

The Locus Coeruleus and Memory — LOCUS

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical Trial Description

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms