AzTrials
AzTrials

Alzheimer's DiseasePhase 1/2NCT00888056

Chronic Electrical Stimulation of Hypothalamus/Fornix in Alzheimer's Disease

A Phase 1/2 study testing Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix in people with Alzheimer's Disease, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice at 1 site in France.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia for which no treatment has shown consistent efficacy to stop or slow down the disease. Recent report of enhancement of memory abilities by bilateral chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the fornix in the hypothalamus suggests that neuromodulation of… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Alzheimer's Disease
What is being tested?
Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
5 participants
Where
1 siteFrance
Study dates
Jun 2009to not given
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 50 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • patients with AD (DSM IV) diagnosed less than 2 years
  • age between 50 and 65
  • mild cognitive decline (MMSE between 20 and 24)
  • specific impairment of episodic memory (evaluated by Grober\&Buschke scale)
  • able to give and sign an informed consent
  • affiliated to the French national health and pensions organization

Who cannot join

  • associated DSM I axis pathology
  • contra-indication to surgery or MRI
  • preoperative MRI abnormalities
  • retraction of consent by the patient
  • decision of the promoter to stop the study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Robert Philippe, PhD contact

+33492037993

robert.p@chu-nice.fr

Fontaine Denys, PhD contact

+33492038450

fontaine.d@chu-nice.fr

France1 site, 1 recruiting
  • CHU de Nice - 4 avenue Reine Victoria - Hôpital de Cimiez

    Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, 06001

    ROBERT Philippe, PhD, +33492037993, robert.p@chu-nice.fr

    Fontaine Denys, PhD, +33492038450, fontaine.d@chu-nice.fr

    Recruiting

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Hypothalamus/ Fornix on Memory Impairment in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia for which no treatment has shown consistent efficacy to stop or slow down the disease. Recent report of enhancement of memory abilities by bilateral chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the fornix in the hypothalamus suggests that neuromodulation of circuits involved in memory processes may have therapeutic implications in AD patients with memory decline.

The primary objectives of this prospective, non-controlled, pilot study are to evaluate the feasibility and safety of DBS in AD patients with mild cognitive and memory impairment, and to evaluate the efficacy of DBS to slow down or stabilize this decline. Five patients with AD (DSM IV) diagnosed less than two years, with mild cognitive decline (MMSE 20-24), and specific impairment of episodic memory will be included in a 2-year period. The evaluation criteria for feasibility will be the proportion of patients undergoing the procedure, chronic stimulation and evaluation process without adverse event (AE). Efficacy will be evaluated using numerous cognitive and memory testing. Changes in behavioral and mood scales, and changes in hypothalamic functions (clinical, biological and hormonal assessment) will evaluate safety and tolerance. Clinical, neuro-psychological, biological and imaging assessment will be performed 3 and one month before and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Bilateral electrodes (Medtronic 3389) will be implanted, by MR-guided frame-based stereotaxy, in the hypothalamic part of the fornix, and then connected to the generator (Kinetra, Medtronic). Chronic high-frequency stimulation will be delivered immediately after surgery.

The investigators expect to slow down, or to stabilize the spontaneous decline of MMSE and ADAS scores after 6, 12 and 24 months of stimulation. In case of efficacy, DBS might offer to AD patient the possibility to slow down/stabilize their symptoms, which no other treatment can currently offer, and to increase their quality of life.

Being tested
Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix
Medical subject headings
Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornixProcedure or surgery

    Clinical, neuro-psychological, biological and imaging assessment will be performed 3 and one month before and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Bilateral electrodes (Medtronic 3389) will be implanted, under local anesthesia, by MR-guided frame-based stereotaxy, in the hypothalamic part of the fornix, before its entry in the mamillary body (well defined on T2 weighted sequences). Intra-operative stimulation will be used to search adverse effects or acute effects. Electrodes will be connected to the generator (Kinetra, Medtronic) under general anesthesia. Chronic high-frequency stimulation will be delivered immediately after surgery.

Study groups in NCT00888056
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ARM AExperimentalBilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix
Receives: Procedure: Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Evaluation criteria for feasibility will be the proportion of patients undergoing the procedure, chronic stimulation and evaluation process without adverse event.

    Measured: once time

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Efficacy will be evaluated using numerous cognitive and memory testing. Neuro-imaging changes after stimulation will be evaluate by morphological MRI and functional imaging (PET). Changes in behavioral and mood scales: evaluate safety

    Measured: M-3, D-7, D7, M3, M6, M12, M24

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Apr 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
5 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00888056
Sponsor's protocol ID
09-PP-01
Status last verified
Apr 2009
First submitted
23 Apr 2009
Last updated
27 Jun 2012
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing Bilateral chronic electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus/fornix in people with Alzheimer's Disease, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice at 1 site in France.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Jun 2012. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Robert Philippe, PhD (+33492037993, robert.p@chu-nice.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Evaluation criteria for feasibility will be the proportion of patients undergoing the procedure, chronic stimulation and evaluation process without adverse event. (time frame: once time). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Jun 2012.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in