Dopaminergic Enhancement of Learning and Memory in Healthy Adults and Patients With Dementia/Mild Cognitive Impairment

Phase 4

• Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Healthy

• Registration Number: NCT00306124
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital Muenster

Brief Summary

This study aims to determine whether levodopa is effective in boosting learning and memory in healthy subjects and patients with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment.

We also examine in healthy subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging which brain regions mediate improved learning after levodopa administration.

Detailed Description

Prior work of our group shows that the dopamine precursor levodopa markedly improves word learning success in healthy subjects. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we probe whether administration of levodopa improves learning performance as compared to placebo administration on neuropsychological tests and in an associative learning paradigm. We postulate that levodopa improves learning success and memory performance in healthy subjects, while the effect in patients with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment might depend on other factors, including severity of memory impairment.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-01
• Study First Submitted: 2006-03-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-03-21
• Study First Posted: 2006-03-22
• Status Verified: 2007-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2007-10-24
• Last Update Posted: 2007-10-25
• Study Completion: 2008-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive performance assessed by neuropsychological tests and learning paradigms under placebo and levodopa in healthy subjects and patients with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Brain activity pattern during learning under levodopa as compared to placebo in healthy subjects.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Long-term stability of learning performance after 1 month in healthy subjects.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Muenster, Department of Neurology; 🇩🇪 Muenster, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany