DOPAMIND
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TARGETING DOPAMINE TO TREAT IMPAIRED MEMORY CONSOLIDATION IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE: A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL
IRAS ID
178711
Contact name
Liz Coulthard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Eudract number
2015-002027-26
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN90897064
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 7 months, 0 days
Research summary
By giving volunteers medications commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome, we aim to investigate whether increasing dopamine levels can increase sleep dependent memory consolidation. \nHealthy older adults who are 65+, people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will be given two different types of dopaminergic medication and placebo on separate overnight visits. The drug order will be randomised and double blind. Each testing visit entails a learning test, followed by a single-dose of a drug, an early recall test and a late recall test after a full night’s sleep. After receiving the drug, participants will stay at the research facility overnight and have sleep monitored. We will also record brain scans using magnetic resonance imaging. A recall of the verbal learning task will be performed over the phone after 7 days.\nThe primary outcome will be change in memory and learning at 12h and 7 days after medication. Change in performance on medication is expected to correlate with sizes of brain structures. Sleep electroencephalography will also be recorded to examine the relationship between memory performance, the medication given and brainwaves during sleep. This pilot study is the first clinical trial to explore the relationship between memory, sleep and single doses of dopamine-like medications in older adults, MCI and AD. \n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0028
Date of REC Opinion
13 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion