Uncovering a Novel Therapeutic Target to Reduce Dementia Risk in Parkinson’s disease
Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka
NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellow and Head, Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research
Dana Pourzinal
PhD Scholar, Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research
Dementia is common at advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. With it comes lower quality of life, increased financial burden, and early institutionalisation. Yet unfortunately, there are currently no known effective treatments to reduce the risk of dementia in Parkinson’s disease. Cognitive impairment is consistently flagged as a top concern for people living with Parkinson’s disease. This is a research priority within the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR). In collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins University, UQCCR are conducting a study called “Uncovering a Novel Therapeutic Target to Reduce Dementia Risk in Parkinson’s disease” (TRIP). The TRIP study is investigating the use of a drug traditionally used for epilepsy to treat early-stage memory problems in Parkinson’s disease. The end goal is to reduce the risk of dementia in people living with Parkinson’s disease, who have a significantly greater chance of developing dementia than the average older adult.
They are seeking people with Parkinson’s disease, and healthy older adults to participate in the TRIP study.
Aims:
• To use advanced neuroimaging of the brain to identify a marker for future dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease and
• To test whether low doses of an anti-epileptic drug (levetiracetam) can improve memory problems and reduce dementia risk in people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Potential impact:
Through this research they hope to produce evidence for a new repurposed therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease. If this initial trial is successful, this will lead to a larger international trial to develop levetiracetam as a treatment for early memory impairment in Parkinson’s disease. However, regardless of the outcome, the TRIP study will help to understand more about cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. In particular, they will learn about the brain mechanisms behind the memory problems experienced by many people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Eligibility criteria:
• People living with Parkinson’s disease (with or without memory problems)
• No Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), pacemaker, or other metal in the body (if unsure, feel free to ask the study coordinator)
• Fluent in English
• Healthy older persons as controls
Study procedures:
All participants (with or without Parkinson’s disease) who do NOT have memory problems will be required to make three study visits over two weeks. They will complete cognitive and psychological assessments, and then complete a memory test during an MRI scan.
People with Parkinson’s disease and with memory problems will be required to make six study visits over twelve weeks. They will complete cognitive, psychological and motor symptom tests, as well as a medical assessment and blood tests. Once enrolled in the clinical trial, people with Parkinson’s disease and with memory problems will have two rounds of treatment – one where they take the drug (levetiracetam) and one where they take a placebo (an inactive ingredient). At the end of each treatment, they will complete a memory test during an MRI scan.
All study assessments are provided at no cost, and a $50 travel reimbursement is available for each visit to the UQCCR, located at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Herston. Participation is completely voluntary, and participants can withdraw from the study at any time.
Contact:
If interested, please contact Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka or study co-ordinator Dana Pourzinal on
Email: pd.research@uq.edu.au OR Telephone: (07) 3346 5028
