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Orexin and Tau Pathology in Cognitively Normal Elderly

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03053908
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : February 15, 2017
Last Update Posted : February 24, 2021
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
NYU Langone Health

Study Description
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Brief Summary:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Current consensus is that the AD pathological process begins decades before clinical symptoms occur. This long "preclinical" phase of AD might first become detectable in middle-age as deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) in the transentorhinal cortex and subcortical nuclei such as the locus coeruleus (LC) and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. There is strong preliminary evidence showing that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of orexin-A (OxA) are associated with increased P-tau (r=.52, p<.01) and total-tau (T-tau) (r=.42, p<.01) in cognitively normal older adults (mean age: 69.6±8.6 years).

This study poses that onset of tauopathy in the LC results in down regulation of orexin receptors, leading to a homeostatic increase of OxA production by the hypothalamus, which results in changes in core body temperature (CBT) and sleep disruption that cause further neurodegeneration. This hypothesis will be tested by demonstrating that increases in CSF P-tau are associated in vivo with tau PET uptake, and that tau binding in the LC is associated with increases in CSF OxA (Aim 1); and second, by analyzing the downstream consequences of increased central nervous system (CNS) OxA on sleep architecture and CBT (Aim 2). To test these hypotheses, 19 older adults (age 55-75) balanced by sex, will first perform a full clinical evaluation and PET-MRI where Tau burden will be analyzed by PET-MR using 18F-MK6240 (visits 1-2). Subjects will later undergo 7 days of actigraphy followed by nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) for 2 consecutive nights (N1-2) during which we will measure CBT (visits 3-4). A morning lumbar puncture (LP) will be performed after N2 to obtain CSF.


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Elderly Alzheimer Disease Procedure: Actigraphy Procedure: Nocturnal Polysomnograpahy (NPSG) Not Applicable

Detailed Description:
There is the potential to identify: 1) an association between CSF P-tau and in vivo 18F-MK6240 uptake; 2) a mechanism by which tau pathology may contribute to orexin dysfunction; 3) evidence that orexin dysfunction disrupts sleep and CBT rhythm; and, 4) CNS orexin dysfunction as a new therapeutic target for AD prevention.
Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 25 participants
Allocation: N/A
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Orexin and Tau Pathology in Cognitively Normal Elderly (A New Prevention Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease)
Actual Study Start Date : March 27, 2018
Actual Primary Completion Date : May 13, 2019
Actual Study Completion Date : May 13, 2019

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Arms and Interventions
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Arm Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Elderly Patients Procedure: Actigraphy
Recording of sleep/wake cycle and TST by actigraphy to be completed at home by subject over 7 days

Procedure: Nocturnal Polysomnograpahy (NPSG)
N1 habituation and N2 data collection


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) P-Tau measured with PET-MR [ Time Frame: 4 Weeks ]
    CSF P-tau is associated with cortical tau uptake

  2. 18MK6240 binding amount measured with PET-MR [ Time Frame: 2 weeks ]
    Tau binding in the brainstem is associated with increases in CSF OxA. PET-MR using 18MK6240 (PET Radiotracer for Imaging Neurofibrillary), which will be performed 1-4 weeks before the LP (visit 2).


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   55 Years to 75 Years   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female subjects with normal cognition and 55-75 years of age will be enrolled.
  • Subjects will be within normal limits on neurological and psychiatric examinations. All subjects enrolled will have both a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)=0 and a MMSE≥27
  • All subjects will have had a minimum of 12 years of education. Among minority subjects >80% of the elderly individuals coming to the NYU-ADC meet this criterion. (The education restriction reduces performance variance on cognitive test measures and improves the sensitivity for detecting pathology and disease progression using the robust norms available at NYU. Given the majority of subjects will meet this criterion we do not consider this a major selection bias or generalization limitation for this study).
  • An informed family member or life-partner (preferably bed-partner) will be interviewed over the phone or on the first or second visit to confirm the reliability of the subject interview.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of brain tumor, MRI evidence of brain damage or brain disease including significant trauma, hydrocephalus, seizures, mental retardation or other serious neurological disorder (e.g. Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders). Subjects with a Fazekas scale >2 will be excluded109.
  • Significant history of alcoholism or drug abuse.
  • History of psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, PTSD, or life-long history of major depression).
  • Geriatric Depression Scale (short form)>5.
  • Insulin dependent diabetes.
  • Evidence of clinically relevant cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine or hematological conditions (e.g. low platelet levels).
  • Physical impairment of such severity as to adversely affect the validity of psychological testing.
  • Any prosthetic devices (e.g., pacemaker or surgical clips) that constitutes a hazard for MRI imaging or CBT measurements.
  • History of a first-degree family member with early onset (age <60 years) dementia.
  • Irregular sleep-wake rhythms (based on the actigraphy recordings) or significant OSA (AHI4%≥15).
  • Medications affecting cognition or sleep.
  • Presence of any known or suspected obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract, including but not limited to diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease.
  • History of disorders or impairment of the gag reflex.
  • Previous gastrointestinal surgery.
  • Previous felinization of the esophagus.
  • Subjects who might undergo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) or MRI scanning during the period that the CorTemp® Disposable Temperature Sensor is within the body.
  • Subjects hypomotility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract including but not limited to Ileus.
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03053908


Locations
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United States, New York
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States, 10016
Sponsors and Collaborators
NYU Langone Health
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Ricardo Osorio, M.D NYU Langone Health
More Information
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Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

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Responsible Party: NYU Langone Health
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03053908    
Other Study ID Numbers: 16-01529
First Posted: February 15, 2017    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: February 24, 2021
Last Verified: February 2021

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Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: No
Keywords provided by NYU Langone Health:
Orexin
Core Body Temperature
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Alzheimer Disease
Dementia
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
 Tauopathies
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurocognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders