A comparison of nigrostriatal dopaminergic functioning in healthy adults of West-African and European descent
- Conditions
- Alterations in the dopamine system relevant to Parkinson's disease & schizophrenia/psychosis100293051003962810014136
- Registration Number
- NL-OMON56593
- Lead Sponsor
- Amsterdam UMC
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sex
- Not specified
- Target Recruitment
- 80
1. Age 18-70 years old.
2. West-African or Dutch descent, as determined through self-report (parents
and grandparents should be born in the corresponding region). After the study
has been conducted, ancestry will be confirmed with genetic analysis.
3. Speaks Dutch or English.
1. Present or past (suspected) presence of severe psychiatric illness, such as
schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive
disorder with psychotic features.
2. Present or past (suspected) presence of neurological disorder (e.g.,
Parkinson*s disease, epilepsy), evidence of brain damage, and/or other medical
illness (e.g., diabetes mellitus) that may affect brain function.
3. Current or recent (past three months) use of illicit drugs, as determined by
self-report and with a urinary drug test on the day of neuroimaging (the
results of this drug test will be checked after the participant has completed
the study). Participants will be tested on use of cannabis, amphetamines, XTC,
cocaine and opiates.
4. Lifetime use of illicit drugs (in particular opiates, amphetamines, XTC, and
cocaine; exclusion for other illicit drug use will be decided on a case-by-case
basis), if frequently taken (>10x lifetime use of drugs).
5. Lifetime cannabis use, if frequently taken (weekly use for at least a year).
6. Current or recent (past three months) use of dopamine-altering
medications/drugs that might influence neuroimaging of DAT availability,
namely: amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, CNS stimulants phentermine or
ephedrines, modafinil, certain antidepressants (mazindol, bupropion,
radafaxine), adrenergic agonists, anticholinergic drugs, opioids, anesthetics
ketamine, PCP, or isoflurane.
7. Smoking or consuming caffeinated drinks during the period of six hours prior
to the DAT SPECT scan.
8. Participation in a scientific examination that used radiation, in the last
year.
9. (Non-removable) metal objects in or around the body.
10. In women: pregnancy (self-report or positive pregnancy test) and/or
lactation.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Observational invasive
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method <p>(1) In older participants (>=50 years old) only: Striatal dopamine transporter<br /><br>(DAT) availability, as assessed through [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT by examining the<br /><br>specific striatal [123I]-FP-CIT binding.<br /><br>(2) In all participants: Nigrostriatal dopaminergic functioning, as assessed<br /><br>with the neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in<br /><br>the substantia nigra.<br /><br>These outcomes will be compared between participants of West-African and Dutch<br /><br>descent.</p><br>
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method <p>1. Subjective social status, i.e. the participant*s perceived standing (1)<br /><br>within Dutch society and (2) their community. This will be measured with the<br /><br>MacArthur Subjective Social Status Scale (MSSSS).<br /><br>2. Scores on the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status (BSMSS), which<br /><br>reflects socioeconomic status (SES), i.e. the participant*s objective<br /><br>socioeconomic position in society, based on educational level and occupational<br /><br>status. Personal and household income will also be quantified.<br /><br>These outcomes will be correlated with striatal dopaminergic functioning and<br /><br>compared between West-African and Dutch participants.</p><br>