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Brain Imaging in Elderly People and Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001917
  Purpose

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to study the effects of aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) on a specific type of brain receptor.

The brain is made up of cells called neurons. The neurons communicate with one another and secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters bind to specific sites on other neurons called receptors. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that binds to ACh receptors. In both aging and AD, the number of neurons that secrete ACh decreases and the function of some ACh receptors changes. This study will use positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brain to study the effects of age and AD on muscarinic type 2 [M2], a type of ACh receptor.

Participants in this study will be injected with a radioactive tracer (ligand [F-18] FP-TZTP) which binds to [M2] receptors. Participants will then undergo a PET scan in order for the density and function of [M2] receptors to be studied.


Condition Intervention
Alzheimer's Disease
Healthy
Drug: O15
Drug: [F-18] FP-TZTP

Genetics Home Reference related topics: Alzheimer disease
MedlinePlus related topics: Alzheimer's Disease
Drug Information available for: Physostigmine Physostigmine salicylate
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: M2 Receptor Measurements in Aging and in Alzheimer's Disease

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 150
Study Start Date: April 1999
Estimated Study Completion Date: April 2005
Detailed Description:

The Geriatric Psychiatry Branch (GPB) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) proposes to study the effect of aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) on muscarinic type 2 (M2) receptor density and function using the ligand [F-18] FP-TZTP. M2 receptors are primarily autoreceptors found on acetylcholine (ACh) neurons, and are lost along with ACh neurons in aging and AD, particularly in the cerebral cortex. As we near completion of the study of the young versus the old, we would like to add a few more healthy subjects to achieve better gender balance, continue the accrual of Alzheimer's patients and expand the Protocol to include its natural scientific progression. Quantification of M2 receptors with a single FP-TZTP scan as we are currently performing with 99-M-0073 provides a measure of the number of cholinergic receptors in the brain, but not their capacity to release acetylcholine into the synapse. To test this capacity requires a second TZTP scan and the use of an agent that alters acetylcholine concentrations in the synapse. Non-human primate studies performed here (1) have found PET scans with FP-TZTP to be sensitive to changes in acetylcholine synapse concentrations, as a result of competition, in response to the adminstration of the acetylinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. We would like to use physostigmine in all groups; young, older normal, and Alzheimer's patients to infer differences in capacity to release acetylcholine.

  Eligibility

Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Healthy males and females between 20-100 years old and volunteers with AD.

AD volunteers must meet the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for possible, probable, or definite AD.

All subjects will be required to be off all prescription medications which could effect the PET scan, such as medications with anticholinergic effects, for two weeks to one month prior to the PET scan, and off psychotropic medication for one month.

Subjects will be cautioned not to consume alcohol, marijuana, or psychotropic drugs while on the study, nor to smoke, use caffeinated beverages, or take over-the-counter medications such as cold medications (ie: Benadryl, Sudafed) for at least 12 hours prior to the PET scan.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients withe significant cardiovascular disease, history of alcoholism, significant head trauma, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, bleeding disorders or other medical conditions which would make it medically unsafe to perform any part of the PET scan or would confound data analysis.

Subjects with evidence of significant chronic disease to be accepted into the healthy control group.

Subjects must not be pregnant.

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00001917

Locations
United States, Maryland
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

Publications:
Study ID Numbers: 990073, 99-M-0073
Study First Received: November 3, 1999
Last Updated: March 3, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001917  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Positron Emission Tomography
Physostigmine
Visual Stimulation
Cholinergic Stimulation
[F-18] FP-TZIP
Aging
Alzheimer's Disease
Visual Activation

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic, Cognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders
Alzheimer Disease
Central Nervous System Diseases
Physostigmine
Healthy
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Brain Diseases
Dementia
Cognition Disorders
Delirium

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Nervous System Diseases
Tauopathies

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 15, 2009