Memantine in Neonatal Diabetes (MIND) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the mechanism of action of Memantine on Katp channels in adults with KCNJ11-related neonatal diabetes: a pilot study
IRAS ID
338859
Contact name
Pamela Bowman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Genes are like recipes. They tell our cells how to work. The KCNJ11 gene makes a channel, called the Katp channel. The channel is found in the pancreas and the brain. If a person has a spelling change in the KCNJ11 gene, the Katp channel does not work. This causes diabetes very early in life. We call this neonatal diabetes. Many people with neonatal diabetes also have developmental problems. The diabetes can be treated by tablets called sulphonylureas (SUs). SUs help the faulty Katp channels to work. The developmental problems do not improve much with SU treatment. This is because SUs do not stay in the brain for very long. The developmental problems are the biggest challenge for families.
Memantine is a drug that is already used to treat dementia. It works in the brain. Memantine can act on Katp channels. We do not know if Memantine affects brain Katp channels. If it does, it might be able to help the developmental problems in neonatal diabetes.
Memantine was first tried in people as a diabetes treatment. However, it had no effect on glucose levels, in people without diabetes or with Type 2 diabetes. In this study, we will give Memantine to adults with neonatal diabetes. We will see if it affects glucose levels. We will also find out if it has any effect on brain function. This will help us understand how Memantine works on Katp channels. The research will help us plan future studies, which will find out if Memantine can treat the developmental problems in neonatal diabetes.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0230
Date of REC Opinion
9 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion