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Deep Brain Stimulation for Patients With Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Dementia With Lewy Bodies
Interventions
Procedure: Bilateral Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBS
Procedure: Sham Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBS
Registration Number
NCT02263937
Lead Sponsor
University College, London
Brief Summary

This trial aims to collect pilot data to explore whether bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert (NBM) has beneficial effects on memory and thinking impairments among individuals with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).

Detailed Description

We will perform a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of human NBM DBS at improving cognitive deficits in DLB patients. Six patients with DLB with moderate cognitive impairments (including but not restricted to deficits in attention and working memory) will have bilateral DBS electrodes implanted to ensure that superficial contacts lie in the motor Globus Pallidum interna (GPi) target, while the deepest electrical contacts lie in the NBM. We will place electrodes using our conventional image-guided, stereotactic frame-based procedure. Once the surgical wounds have healed, patients will be randomised into 2 groups in a crossover trial design to have 6 week periods of NBM stimulation switched on or switched off separated by a 2 week washout period, following which the patient will cross over to have the opposite condition for a further 6 weeks. Outcome measures collected at the 6 weeks and 14 weeks timepoints will be compared according to whether each patient was ON or OFF stimulation at that timepoint.

At the end of the crossover period, all patients will be invited for continued follow up with stimulation switched on and will have neuropsychological evaluations at 6 monthly intervals. Patients will be given the option of receiving additional conventional stimulation to the motor GPi, through the higher contacts of each electrode, at the end of the crossover period if required for any coexisting Parkinsonian motor complications of DLB.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
6
Inclusion Criteria
  • DLB Consortium Criteria for diagnosis
  • Score between 2 & 12 on Clinician Assessment of Fluctuations scale
  • MMSE score between 21 and 27
  • Appropriate Surgical candidates in terms of general health
  • Aged between 50 & 80
  • Able to give Informed consent
  • Living at home with Carer
  • Able to comply with protocol
  • On stable dosage of cholinesterase inhibitor
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of other cause for dementia
  • Abnormality on brain imaging considered likely to compromise compliance with trial protocol.
  • Prior intracerebral surgical intervention

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Bilateral Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBSBilateral Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBS6 week period of active NBM DBS
Sham Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBSSham Nucleus Basalis Meynert DBS6 week period of Sham DBS
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hopkins Verbal Learning testComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Verbal FluencyComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Simple & Choice Reaction time taskComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Posner's Covert Attention testComparing ON v OFF at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale (WAIS IV) Digit SpanComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Clinician's Assessment of Fluctuations scaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV -Letter, Number sequencingComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Trail Making testComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Dementia Rating Scale (DRS-2)Comparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI)Comparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Minimental State Examination (MMSE)Comparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Judgement of Line OrientationComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Stroop testComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Neuropsychiatric InventoryComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Short Recognition MemoryComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV - Symbol searchComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
North East Visual Hallucinations InterviewComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Clinical Global Impression ScaleComparing ON v OFF at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Hamilton Depression scaleComparing ON v OFF at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Starkstein Apathy Rating scaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Movement Disorders Society- Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating ScaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Quality of Life- Alzheimer's DiseaseComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Florida Apraxia Screening testComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Blessed Dementia scaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Carer Strain IndexComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Hamilton Anxiety ScaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Short Form 36Comparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Freezing of Gait- questionnaireComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Scales for outcome in Parkinson's disease (SCOPA - AUT)Comparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status
Mayo Fluctuations Composite ScaleComparing ON v OFF stimulation at 6 weeks & 14 weeks according to stimulation status

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

UCL Institute of Neurology

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

University of Newcastle

🇬🇧

Newcastle, United Kingdom

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