Serotonin Transporter Density in Late-life Depression With and Without Dementia

Melancholia Clinical Trial

Official title: Serotonin Transporter Density in Late-life Depression With and Without Dementia

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will recruit a total of 40 evaluable subjects (20 cognitively depressive, and 20 AD depressive); each evaluable subject involved in this study must fulfill all the inclusion and exclusion criteria according the subject grouping.

Safety measurement will be evaluated by medical history, vital signs, physical examinations, laboratory examinations and collecting of adverse events.

This study is expected to be completed in a period of 3 years.

Clinical Trial Description

Depression and dementia are the two common psychiatric disorders in the elder subjects. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia and about 20% of them have depression. Depression subjects are associated with more rapid cognitive decline, a poorer response to treatment. Post mortem study showed close relationship between AD and disruptions of the serotonergic system, including loss of serotnergic neurons at brain stem. However, the alternations in presynaptic serotonin function relative to demented or non-demented subjects remain to be investigated in living subjects. In this study, the investigators will collect 40 elder subjects (i.e., age above or equal to 50 years old). The serotonin transporter activity will be compared between subjects with or without dementia using I-123 ADAM images. The single photon emission tomography (SPECT) will be compared to recent (within 6 months) F-18 FDG PET images for further investigation. ;

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Diagnostic

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Melancholia

• NCT number: NCT01548937
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: May 2010
• Completion date: December 2012