Combination Treatment Study for Memory Impairment and Depression

Summary

Patients presenting with depression (DEP) and cognitive impairment (CI), represent a unique, understudied population that is difficult to diagnose, treat and estimate prognosis. Our pilot data, supported by the literature, suggest that many DEP-CI patients show cognitive decline and often convert to dementia, primarily Alzheimer's disease (AD). In DEP-CI, there is a lack of data on treatment response of mood symptoms to antidepressant treatment and particularly of cognitive deficits to cognitive enhancer treatment. Our initial pilot data in a double-blind study showed that donepezil was superior to placebo in improving memory in antidepressant-treated DEP-CI patients. In a second pilot study, open label es-citalopram plus memantine treatment led to a low rate of conversion to dementia. In this proposed pilot clinical trial, the investigators will evaluate, treat and follow a broad sample of 80 DEP-CI patients at NYSPI/Columbia University Medical Center (N = 40) and Duke University Medical Center (N = 40). Recruitment will be from clinics and/or advertisements. In the treatment protocol, all 80 DEP-CI patients will receive baseline mood and memory assessments and open antidepressant treatment with citalopram for 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, repeat assessment will occur and patients whose depression has responded to citalopram will be randomized to add-on donepezil or placebo. Non-responders to citalopram will receive open treatment with venlafaxine and will be randomized 8 weeks later (16 weeks of open antidepressant treatment) to add-on donepezil or placebo. Patients will be followed for a total period of 18 months with continuous open antidepressant treatment during the trial. Donepezil is being studied in order to increase the likelihood of obtaining a signal. If the results are positive, the investigators can begin clarifying the mechanism(s) in subsequent trials. Baseline apolipoprotein E e4 genotype, odor identification deficits, and MRI hippocampal and entorhinal cortex atrophy will be explored as predictors of donepezil response in the 18-month trial. Improving cognition and delaying conversion to a clinical diagnosis of dementia in this high risk group will enhance quality of life, reduce family burden, and markedly diminish overall health care costs.

Timeline

Start

2011-09

Primary completion

2016-01

Completion

2016-01

Publications

• Devanand DP, Pelton GH, D'Antonio K, Ciarleglio A, Scodes J, Andrews H, Lunsford J, Beyer JL, Petrella JR, Sneed J, Ciovacco M, Doraiswamy PM. Donepezil Treatment in Patients With Depression and Cognitive Impairment on Stable Antidepressant Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;26(10):1050-1060. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.05.008. Epub 2018 Jun 28.
• Pelton GH, Andrews H, Roose SP, Marcus SM, D'Antonio K, Husn H, Petrella JR, Zannas AS, Doraiswamy PM, Devanand DP. Donepezil treatment of older adults with cognitive impairment and depression (DOTCODE study): clinical rationale and design. Contemp Clin Trials. 2014 Mar;37(2):200-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2013.11.015. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

Drugs

Indications