Lymphatic System Health in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trial

Official title:

Lymphatic System Health in Alzheimer's Disease

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Withdrawn

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04205539
• Other study ID #: 20190858
• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: December 10, 2021
• Est. completion date: December 2023

Study information

• Verified date: September 2022
• Source: Neurological Associates of West Los Angeles
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study hopes to investigate differences in lymphatic health of patients with Alzheimer's disease by analyzing diffusion-weight images in conscious and sleep states. Dexmedetomidine is a short-acting agent that facilitates a sedated state characterized by slow waves and inhibition of norepinephrine. Conceptually, dexmedetomidine may be preferred to other agents, because it is a short-acting norepinephrine blocker, which could mimic slow wave sleep architecture, opening interstitial spaces, and facilitating plaque removal. Dexmedetomidine may also be preferred given its safety profile among the elderly and acutely ill compared to other anesthetic agents. Sleep will be induced with dexmedetomidine, and interstitial fluid convection will be assessed by measuring free-water diffusion imaging. Freewater diffusion imaging separates out the contributions of extracellular free water and water in the vicinity of cellular tissue; it is used to evaluate abnormalities in extracellular space, such as neuroinflammation, which may contribute to long-term cellular degeneration. This method of analysis could be useful in assessing the lymph systems ability to remove extracellular debris.

Description:

The present study is designed as a prospective data analysis of lymphatic system health in Alzheimer's patients and controls. For Phase I trail, 50 patients of any gender with an age range of 18 to 90 who have undergone the outlined procedure will be recruited for inclusion. Patients will be examined by the principle investigator. All patients will complete neurocognitive testing (QDRS and RBANS) to assess cognitive impairment. A CDR score of 1 or above will be considered dementia. Lumbar punctures will be used to determine Alzheimer's disease status. Patients will be offered the option of participating in the study and provided informed consent for neuroimaging. The subjects will have three fMRI scans: structural T1 and two NOODI DTI scans. The scans take around 45 minutes at no charge to the patients. The dexmedetomidine will be given to the patient after the first DTI scan. The dexmedetomidine dosage will be congruent with patient height, weight, and medical history. This medication will be administered sublingually using an LMA Intranasal Mucosal Atomization Device, which allows the medication to be administered in the form of a spray. Patients will be instructed to keep the medication in their mouth for about 2 minutes, or until fully absorbed. Pulse oximetry and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the duration of treatment. After the subject is asleep, the second DTI scan will be done.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Withdrawn
• Enrollment: 0
• Est. completion date: December 2023
• Est. primary completion date: December 10, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 90 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• In order for a subject to be considered for this study, the subject must be willing to comply with the study protocol. They must be between 18 and 90 years old. They must complete neurocognitive testing to assess cognitive impairment (QDRS and RBANS).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Advanced stages of any terminal illness or any active cancer that requires chemotherapy
• Hepatic impairment
• Significant cytopenia
• Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular arterial thrombosis
• Women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• Any counter indications to dexmedetomidine
• Subjects unable to give informed consent or in vulnerable categories, such as prisoners

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alzheimer Disease

Intervention

Drug:
• Dexmedetomidine
This medication will be administered sublingually using an LMA Intranasal Mucosal Atomization Device, which allows the medication to be administered in the form of a spray. Patients will be instructed to keep the medication in their mouth for about 2 minutes, or until fully absorbed. Pulse oximetry and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the duration of treatment. After the subject is asleep, the second DTI scan will be done.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Westwood Open MRI	Los Angeles	California
United States	Neurological Associates of West Los Angeles	Santa Monica	California

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Neurological Associates of West Los Angeles

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (22)

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* Note: There are 22 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	T1 fMRI Imaging	T1-data was collected as a sagittal MPRAGE sequence. T1 images are corrected for field biasing and then skull stripped and linearly registered to standard MNI space. Each patients' T1 image is segmented into 100 cortical and 15 subcortical areas using the Harvard-Oxford Cortical and Subcortical structural atlas. Mean volume is computed for each of these regions for each patient, which can be used for quantitative comparison.	Before dexmedetomidine
Primary	T1 fMRI Imagine	T1-data was collected as a sagittal MPRAGE sequence. T1 images are corrected for field biasing and then skull stripped and linearly registered to standard MNI space. Each patients' T1 image is segmented into 100 cortical and 15 subcortical areas using the Harvard-Oxford Cortical and Subcortical structural atlas. Mean volume is computed for each of these regions for each patient, which can be used for quantitative comparison.	Immediately following administration of dexmedetomidine
Primary	Diffusion Tensor Imaging	Diffusion tensor imaging is acquired through diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-a magnetic resonance techniques that evaluate water diffusion in terms of diffusion constants and diffusion anisotropy. From the acquired DWI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows us to model the degree of anisotropy and the structural orientation in a quantitative fashion. These DTI fractional anisotropy values will be compared pre and post-treatment.	Before dexmedetomidine administration
Primary	Diffusion Tensor Imaging	Diffusion tensor imaging is acquired through diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-a magnetic resonance techniques that evaluate water diffusion in terms of diffusion constants and diffusion anisotropy. From the acquired DWI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows us to model the degree of anisotropy and the structural orientation in a quantitative fashion. These DTI fractional anisotropy values will be compared pre and post-treatment.	Immediately following administration of dexmedetomidine
Secondary	Repeatable Battery Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) versions A-D	RBANS assesses immediate memory, visuospatial skill, language, attention, and delayed memory. Patient performance on each subscale immediate memory, language, attention, visuospatial, and delayed memory are scored relative to validated norms for same-aged peers. A change of 8+ points in the Total Scale score, 11+ points in the Immediate Memory score, 9+ points in the Language score, 4+ points on the Attention score, 14+ points is considered significant for the Visuospatial score, and 10+ points for the Delayed Memory score are considered significant.	1 week prior to dexmedetomidine
Secondary	Quick Dementia Rating Scale (QDRS)	The Quick Dementia Rating Scale (QDRS) is an interview-based tool administered by study officials to participants' caregivers used to obtain observations from a consistent source. The QDRS form consists of 10 categorical questions (5 cognitive, 5 functional), each with 5 detailed options depicting the level of impairment as either 0 (normal), 0.5 (mild/inconsistent impairment), 1 (mild/consistent impairment), 2 (moderate impairment), or 3 (severe impairment). Based on the conversion table outlined in Dr. James Galvin's research (2015), total QDRS scores were converted to Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale levels ranging from 0 (normal aging), 0.5 (mild cognitive impairment), 1 (mild dementia), 2 (moderate dementia), and 3 (severe dementia).	1 week prior to dexmedetomidine