Reversing Corticosteroid Induced Memory Impairment

Memory Impairment Clinical Trial

Official title: Reversing Corticosteroid Induced Memory Impairment

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Medically stable outpatients receiving chronic oral corticosteroid therapy were enrolled in a 48-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, trial of lamotrigine.

Clinical Trial Description

Stress and corticosteroid exposure are associated with changes in both the human and animal hippocampus. An extensive literature suggests that corticosteroid-induced changes in the hippocampus are, in part, mediated through increases in extracellular glutamate. In animals, agents that decrease glutamate release prevent dendritic changes in the hippocampus secondary to stress or corticosterone. We have developed a research program using patients receiving prescription corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) to explore the effects of corticosteroids on the human hippocampus. Our research program is translational in focus, with a goal of exploring whether the reported effects of corticosteroids on the animal hippocampus are also found in humans. A current focus of our research is examining glutamate release inhibitors in patients taking corticosteroids. We have both open-label and placebo-controlled pilot data suggesting that the glutamate release inhibitor lamotrigine is associated with significant improvement in declarative memory (a measure of hippocampal performance) in this population. A definitive study examining declarative memory in corticosteroid-dependent patients receiving lamotrigine vs. placebo is proposed. Neuroimaging and mood will also be assessed. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Memory Disorders
• Memory Impairment

• NCT number: NCT01142310
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: June 2010
• Completion date: June 2015