Brain Imaging in Tobacco Smokers During a Quit Attempt

Summary

The proposed study will help fill gaps in existing research by determining if nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers show changes in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) availability when compared to matched historical controls using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the radioactive ligand \[18F\]-ASEM (3-(1,4-diazabicyclo\[3.2.2\]nonan-4-yl)-6 \[18F\]fluorodibenzo\[b,d\]thiophene 5,5-dioxide), an α7 nAChR antagonist. The study will also explore whether α7 nAChR availability influences clinically relevant measures of tobacco abstinence (e.g., withdrawal and craving, cognitive impairment), self-reported cigarettes per day, and time to relapse during an 8-day quit attempt during which smokers can receive escalating payments contingent upon providing objective evidence (breath CO and urinary cotinine) of smoking abstinence.

Timeline

Start

2019-12-16

Primary completion

2022-10-30

Completion

2022-11-30

Drugs

Indications