Uncovering a Novel Therapeutic Target to Reduce Dementia Risk in Parkinson's Disease

Summary

The present study is a proof-of-concept clinical trial to test the efficacy of low doses of a repurposed anti-epileptic drug (levetiracetam) in treating memory problems in Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuroimaging techniques will be used to determine the effect of the drug on specific brain regions (hippocampal subfields). Finally, baseline brain activity of PD patients with memory problems will be compared to PD patients without memory problems and healthy older adults to determine if activity in specific brain regions (hippocampal subfields) can be used to predict memory problems in PD. This information will be useful for future clinical trials to target drugs to these brain regions.

Timeline

Start

2021-02-09

Primary completion

2025-01

Completion

2025-12

Publications

• Dissanayaka N, Pourzinal D, Byrne GJ, Yang J, McMahon KL, Pontone GM, O'Sullivan JD, Adam R, Littleford R, Chatfield M, Lehn A, Mari Z, Bakker A. Levetiracetam for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind controlled proof-of-concept trial protocol. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2023 Nov 22;9(1):189. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01406-y.

Drugs

Indications