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Effects of Estrogen on Memory in Post-Menopausal Women and Patients With Alzheimer's Disease
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Purpose
| Condition | Intervention | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer Disease | Drug: Donepezil Drug: Estrogen Drug: Progesterone | Phase 2 |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Masking: Double-Blind Primary Purpose: Treatment |
| Official Title: | Estrogen Modulation Effects on Cholinergic Function in Normal Post-Menopausal Women and Patients With Alzheimer's Disease |
| Estimated Enrollment: | 45 |
| Study Start Date: | September 1999 |
| Study Completion Date: | March 2004 |
| Primary Completion Date: | March 2004 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
Estrogen (EST) may have significant benefits in preserving cognitive functioning in normal aging after menopause and in decreasing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). On a molecular level, EST has effects on a variety of cholinergic neuronal and receptor-mediated mechanisms that may be responsible for these beneficial effects. These neurons have critical relevance for the development of age-related cognitive changes and dementing disorders. However, little is known about the clinical relevance of EST-cholinergic interactions, either in normal aging or in AD.
The primary goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that three months of administration of EST to 1) normal post-menopausal women, and 2) female patients with mild-moderate AD who are concurrently treated with anticholinesterase therapy (donepezil), will positively change or blunt the negative and behavioral effects of drugs that block central cholinergic receptors (both muscarinic and nicotinic). Participants will be blindly placed on EST or placebo for three months each. After each three month period, they will be cognitively assessed after receiving single doses of the cholinergic antagonists scopolamine and mecamylamine. These results will have direct implications for the use of EST in post-menopausal women as well as interactive treatment with cholinergic drugs for AD. Researchers plan to recruit a total of 45 women (30 healthy, and 15 patients with AD).
NOTE: This study is only recruiting participants with Alzheimer's Disease at this time.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 45 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Senior) |
| Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Normal volunteers and women with mild Alzheimer's disease:
- Non-smoker
- No use of Hormone Replacement Therapy for at least one year
- No menses for at least one year
- Normal mammogram within the last year
- minimum age is 45 for patients with Alzheimer's disease; 50 for normal volunteers
- Maximum age is 85 for patients with Alzheimer's disease; there is no maximum age for normal volunteers.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Women who are currently taking estrogen therapy.
- Women who are smokers.
- Women who have had breast cancer.
Contacts and LocationsPlease refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00006399
| United States, Vermont | |
| Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Vermont | |
| Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401 | |
| Principal Investigator: | Paul A. Newhouse, M.D. | Memory Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine |
More Information
Additional Information:
Publications:
| Responsible Party: | Paul A. Newhouse, M.D, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00006399 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: |
IA0023 2R56AG021476 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
| Study First Received: | August 18, 2000 |
| Last Updated: | January 13, 2009 |
Keywords provided by National Institute on Aging (NIA):
|
Alzheimer disease Estrogen therapy Post-menopausal women |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Alzheimer Disease Dementia Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Tauopathies Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Mental Disorders Progesterone Estrogens |
Donepezil Progestins Hormones Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Physiological Effects of Drugs Cholinesterase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Cholinergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Nootropic Agents |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on July 27, 2017