SNIFF - Combo INI+EMPA Trial

Summary

The proposed pilot study will provide safety and efficacy preliminary data regarding singular and combined effects of two therapeutic approaches, intranasal insulin and treatment with the sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin, to correct bioenergetic and vascular dysfunction in adults with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or early AD.

Timeline

Start

2021-09-14

Primary completion

2024-09-17

Completion

2024-09-17

Publications

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• Background Benedict C, Kern W, Schultes B, Born J, Hallschmid M. Differential sensitivity of men and women to anorexigenic and memory-improving effects of intranasal insulin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Apr;93(4):1339-44. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-2606. Epub 2008 Jan 29.
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• Background Reger MA, Watson GS, Frey WH 2nd, Baker LD, Cholerton B, Keeling ML, Belongia DA, Fishel MA, Plymate SR, Schellenberg GD, Cherrier MM, Craft S. Effects of intranasal insulin on cognition in memory-impaired older adults: modulation by APOE genotype. Neurobiol Aging. 2006 Mar;27(3):451-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.03.016. Epub 2005 Jun 16.
• Background Reger MA, Watson GS, Green PS, Baker LD, Cholerton B, Fishel MA, Plymate SR, Cherrier MM, Schellenberg GD, Frey WH 2nd, Craft S. Intranasal insulin administration dose-dependently modulates verbal memory and plasma amyloid-beta in memory-impaired older adults. J Alzheimers Dis. 2008 Apr;13(3):323-31. doi: 10.3233/jad-2008-13309.
• Background Reger MA, Watson GS, Green PS, Wilkinson CW, Baker LD, Cholerton B, Fishel MA, Plymate SR, Breitner JC, DeGroodt W, Mehta P, Craft S. Intranasal insulin improves cognition and modulates beta-amyloid in early AD. Neurology. 2008 Feb 5;70(6):440-8. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000265401.62434.36. Epub 2007 Oct 17.
• Background Rivera EJ, Goldin A, Fulmer N, Tavares R, Wands JR, de la Monte SM. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and function deteriorate with progression of Alzheimer's disease: link to brain reductions in acetylcholine. J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Dec;8(3):247-68. doi: 10.3233/jad-2005-8304.
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• Background Zhao L, Teter B, Morihara T, Lim GP, Ambegaokar SS, Ubeda OJ, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. Insulin-degrading enzyme as a downstream target of insulin receptor signaling cascade: implications for Alzheimer's disease intervention. J Neurosci. 2004 Dec 8;24(49):11120-6. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2860-04.2004.
• Background Zhao WQ, Townsend M. Insulin resistance and amyloidogenesis as common molecular foundation for type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 May;1792(5):482-96. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2008.10.014. Epub 2008 Nov 5.
• Background Yu L, Buysse DJ, Germain A, Moul DE, Stover A, Dodds NE, Johnston KL, Pilkonis PA. Development of short forms from the PROMIS sleep disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment item banks. Behav Sleep Med. 2011 Dec 28;10(1):6-24. doi: 10.1080/15402002.2012.636266.
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• Erichsen JM, Register TC, Sutphen C, Ma D, Gaussoin SA, Rudolph M, Rundle M, Bateman JT, Lockhart SN, Sai KKS, Whitlow C, Craft S. A phase 2A/B randomized trial of metabolic modulators intranasal insulin and empagliflozin for MCI and early AD. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Oct;21(10):e70704. doi: 10.1002/alz.70704.

Drugs

Indications