Olfactory Deficits in MCI as Predictor of Improved Cognition on Donepezil

Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial

Official title: Olfactory Deficits in Mild Cognitive Impairment as a Predictor of Improved Cognition on Donepezil

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Odor identification deficits, which are a result of early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology in the olfactory bulb and tract as well as olfactory projection areas in the medial temporal lobe (entorhinal and piriform cortex and hippocampus), lateral and central orbitofrontal cortex and several other regions, occur in AD and strongly predict mild cognitive impairment (MCI) conversion to AD. Our pilot data, along with converging findings in the literature, suggests that odor identification deficits, both incremental change over time and change in response to an anticholinergic challenge, may be clinically simple, relatively inexpensive, predictors of cognitive improvement with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ACheI) treatment with potential clinical implications for predicting improvement and monitoring ACheI therapy.

Clinical Trial Description

In this clinical trial, the investigators will evaluate, treat and follow a broad sample of 60 adult patients with amnestic MCI at New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Medical Center. Recruitment will be from clinics and/or advertisements. In the protocol, all 60 amnestic MCI patients will receive baseline memory and olfactory assessments and begin treatment with donepezil. Patients will be followed for a total of 1 year. During this time, patients will be monitored closely by the study physician and will receive memory and olfactory assessments at weeks 8, 26, and 52. In addition, an olfactory challenge test will be done at baseline.

This project will be of value in the selection of patients with mild cognitive impairment for treatment based on the evaluation of olfaction tests to predict response to donepezil and other ACheI. Since mild cognitive impairment is widespread and Alzheimer's disease represents a major public health problem, this study has considerable public purpose and significance. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Mild Cognitive Impairment

• NCT number: NCT01845636
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: August 2012
• Completion date: March 2016