Alzheimer DiseaseMemori³NCT06391853
Investigating Brain Insulin Resistance in Alzheimer Disease with IntraNasal Insulin : a Multimodal Neuroimaging Study
A study testing Insulin in people with Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by Erasme University Hospital.
Trial summary
Using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging (FDG-PET, fMRI, EEG), this research project will aim to further investigate in vivo brain insulin signalling by exploring the effects of acute INI administration on neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling, and on cortical electrical activity, both in individuals with normal… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- What is being tested?
- Insulin
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 0 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2024to 1 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 21 to 85 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- For the young subject group (group 1):
- Men and women aged 21-45 years old.
- Women under effective contraception.
- For Women, the study protocol should be performed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, because of …
- Subjects must be proficient in speaking, reading and understanding French in order to be assessed with the neuropsychological tests battery.
- For the MCI/AD group (group 2):
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- Men and women aged 40-85 years old.
- Patients included on the registry of Neurodegeresence study in Hopital Erasme.
- Patients are capable of providing informed consent.
- Patients are proficient in speaking, reading and understanding French, in order to be assessed with the neuropsychological tests battery.
- Being diagnosed with amnestic MCI or probable mild AD, according to the core clinical criteria of the NIA and Alzheimer's Association guidelines.
- If the patient has a prescription medication acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (e.g. donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and/or memantine doses has to be stable since 1 month at least.
- For the group 2 - matched controls (group 3):
- Men and women aged 40-85 years old.
- Participants capable of providing informed consent
- Subjects are proficient in speaking, reading and understanding French, in order to be assessed with the neuropsychological tests battery.
Who cannot join
- Exclusion criteria related to trimodal neuroimaging data acquisition:
- Dense or tight hair braiding or scalp lesions, preventing adequate EEG cap positioning.
- Pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.
- Claustrophobia.
- Metallic component (e.g. pacemaker) incompatible with the MRI acquisition.
- Participants over 120 kg for radioprotection issues.
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- Any acute medical condition that required either hospitalization or surgery within the past 6 months.
- The subject has participated in a clinical trial investigation within 1 month of this study.
- Current or past psychiatric illness (according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI])
- For healthy participants (groups 1 and 3), having a first degree relative with dementia onset before 65 years (Alzheimer, Lewy body disease, Parkinson)
- Dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] scores ≤ 20) for group 2 and 3.
- CDR score ≥2, witch will be evaluated before inclusion by investigator for group 2 and 3.
- Current recreational drug or alcohol abuse.
- Serious systemic disease that would interfere with the conduction of the trial .
- Based on selection of Dementia from neurologic causes, Hachinski Ischemia Score > 4 (55).
- Being under corticosteroid treatment (non-topical treatment)
- Being under birth-control pill containing ethinyl estradiol.
- The subject has an allergy to the IMP.
- History of bleeding disorder.
- The use of anticoagulants warfarin (Coumadin) or dabigatran (Pradaxa)
- Taking a hormonal therapy (e.g., post menopausal, oncological treatment…)
- Type 1 DM or Type 2 DM treated with insulin.
- History of severe hypoglycaemia.
- Participant being under any chronic Intranasal treatment.
- Criteria susceptible to postpone study inclusion:
- Clogged or runny nose.
- Current Ears Nose Throat (ENT) infection.
- Fever during the last 24 hours.
- Consumption of caffeine during the last 24 hours.
- Fasting period inferior to 12h before study visits.
- Sleep deficiency the night preceding study days as assessed by Pittsburgh Survey
About this study
Official title: Investigating Brain Insulin Resistance in Alzheimer Disease with Intra-Nasal Insulin Administration: a Multimodal Neuroimaging Study
Using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging (FDG-PET, fMRI, EEG), this research project will aim to further investigate in vivo brain insulin signalling by exploring the effects of acute INI administration on neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling, and on cortical electrical activity, both in individuals with normal cognitive function and those affected by Mild cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease .
Read the detailed description
Current pharmacological interventions mostly target symptoms. Most recently, disease-modifying therapies targeting beta-amyloid aggregation have been developed. Randomized controlled trials using these drugs (Lacenemab and Donanemab) in patients with early symptomatic AD showed a modest impact in terms of slowing cognitive decline and reducing amyloid biomarkers, associated with significant adverse effects. Yet, to date, no pharmacological intervention has been shown to reverse the loss in cognitive function associated with AD, nor to prevent the development of AD pathology. The risk of developing AD is influenced by both genetic and acquired factors, which include APOE genotype and insulin resistance. A better understanding of the association between insulin resistance and AD has important implications, both from a pathophysiological perspective and to foster the development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies. Observational studies have unambiguously demonstrated the bidirectional link between AD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, recent studies have shown that AD patients without T2DM have impaired insulin signalling at the brain level, which has led the field to define AD as "type 3 diabetes". Insulin is a hormone normally synthesized by the pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels and its utilization within the cells of our body, including the brain. To date, studies using intranasal insulin (INI) administration to investigate brain insulin signalling have shown significant variations in fMRI BOLD signal and improved cognition in healthy subjects. In AD patients, chronic INI administration for months showed that it significantly slowed down the progressive brain metabolism alteration as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and to reduce the ratio of tau on amyloids deposit levels in cerebro-spinal fluid(tau-P181 to CSF Aβ42). Taken together, these findings raise the possibility that insulin is modifying AD-related processes.However, the effects of acute INI administration on brain function and cognition in healthy and AD subjects is not fully characterized yet. Acute INI could help to identify pathophysiologic processes occurring after a single doses, mainly insulin signalling and not due to any long term exposure event (genetic expression or modulation of the receptors).
PET-FDG is a neuroimaging technique that enables the quantification of human brain metabolism. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) utilizes a magnetic field to capture high-precision structural information about the humain brain. Functional MRI (fMRI) extends the capabilities of traditional MRI by capturing information on the modulation of brain perfusion during tasks and resting state. Finally, electroencephalography (EEG) allows direct and dynamic acquisition of cortical electric activity and allow to study functional brain connectivity.
Using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging (FDG-PET, fMRI, EEG), this research project will aim to further investigate in vivo brain insulin signalling by exploring the effects of acute INI administration on neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling, and on cortical electrical activity, both in individuals with normal cognitive function and those affected by MCI/AD.
- Conditions
- Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Being tested
- Insulin, Placebo
- Keywords
- Intranasal Insulin
- Medical subject headings
- Alzheimer Disease, Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
InsulinDrug
Also called FDG-PET, EEG, fMRI
A venous line will be installed and an MRI-compatible EEG Cap (32 scalp electrodes) will be installed with conductive gel between the scalp and the electrode.
Participants will receive 2 Intranasal spray. Participants will then be installed in the PET/MRI camera. At 30 min post INI administration, a continuous infusion of FDG will be started, along with dynamic PET acquisition while recording EEG and fMRI sequences. Participant will be asked to rest, eyes opened and awake to stay awake during the 55 minutes.
At the end of the neuroimaging data acquisition, participants will be freed from EEG Cap and will undergo neuropsychologic evaluation.The final part of neuropsychological evaluation will be performed on week later, on the phone.. The total study time for each scanning day will be around 3h.
PlaceboDrug
Also called FDG-PET, EEG, fMRI
A venous line will be installed and an MRI-compatible EEG Cap (32 scalp electrodes) will be installed with conductive gel between the scalp and the electrode.
Participants will receive 2 Intranasal spray. Participants will then be installed in the PET/MRI camera. At 30 min post INI administration, a continuous infusion of FDG will be started, along with dynamic PET acquisition while recording EEG and fMRI sequences. Participant will be asked to rest, eyes opened and awake to stay awake during the 55 minutes.
At the end of the neuroimaging data acquisition, participants will be freed from EEG Cap and will undergo neuropsychologic evaluation.The final part of neuropsychological evaluation will be performed on week later, on the phone.. The total study time for each scanning day will be around 3h.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intranasal Insulin then Placebo | Experimental | First day , participant will receive Intranasal Insulin (100IU insulin/ml) 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml (total dose =160UI)
Second day participant will receive Placebo Intranasal , witch is saline solution (Nacl 0.9%). 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml Receives: Drug: Insulin |
| Placebo then Intranasal Insulin | Active comparator | First day ,participant will receive Placebo Intranasal , witch is saline solution (Nacl 0.9%). 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml
Second day, participant will receive Intranasal Insulin (100IU insulin/ml) 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml (total dose =160UI) Receives: Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Effects of INI administration on FMRI data in the 3 groups
For brain fRMI data: BOLD signal variation (Arbitrary Unit from a percent change from baseline).
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Effects of INI administration on PET-FDG regional standardized data in the 3 groups
For brain PET-FDG: regional SUV value(standardized Uptake Ratio) .The SUV is a mathematically derived ratio of tissue radioactivity concentration at a point in time at a specific region of interest and the injected dose of radioactivity per kilogram of the patient's body weight
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Effects of INI administration on PET-FDG global data in the 3 groups
For brain PET-FDG: Statistical Parametric Mapping analysis (SPM) for voxel-wise groups comparison and multiple correlations (t-score)
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Effects of INI administration on EEG connectivity data in the 3 groups
Connectivity changes (SmallWorldness index σ , a quantitative method for determining canonical network equivalence,)
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Effects of INI administration on EEG Frequency band data in the 3 groups
Spectrum analysis of the power (Power of the EEG signal(µV²/Hz) plotted against frequency band in Hz)
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Secondary outcomes (10)
Impact of gender on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Co-analysis of primary endpoint: this variable will be included as covariable in group and population analysis (Male or Female)
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact APOE (apolipoprotein E ) genetic status on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Co-analysis of primary endpoint: this variable will be included as covariable in group and population analysis (Carrier , Homozygote , non-carrier)
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of Insulino-resistance scores ( Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance Scale (HOMA-IR) ), on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Co-analysis of primary endpoint: this variable will be included as covariable in group and population analysis.
higher Range of HOMA-IR indicate higher resistance to insulin. This scale is a ratio : Fasting glycaemia (mmol/L) * Fasting Insulinemia (mui/mL)/22.5.
Cut off are defined with value <1.0 for non resistant subject. >1.9 for insulin resistance and >2.9 for high insulin resistance.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on cognition and episodic memory
Neuropsychological Data: A French-language battery for "Free Recall and Recall with Clue- 16" (RL-RI-16) The subjects get a global score from 0 to 144; a higher score means better-preserved memory function. Those score are then adjusted to existing data and deviation of the subject is calculated in statistical z-score.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / visual scanning
Neuropsychological Data: Attention testing will be assessed with tests from a Attention Test Battery,validated in french, assessing the attention of the subject.
Visual scanning a matrix-like arrangement of 5 x 5 stimuli is used, the aim being to detect whether this arrangement includes a critical stimulus or not. One reaction key is used for the answer "present" and another for the answer "not present".
T Score are calculated for row and column , compared to a data base adjusted for age.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / mental flexibility
Neuropsychological Data: This test is a "set shifting" task. A letter and a number are presented simultaneously to the right and left of the center of the screen. The subject has two reaction keys, one on the left and one on the right hand side. The task is to press the reaction key corresponding to the side on which the target stimulus appears.
T Score are calculated from the reaction times, compared to a data base adjusted for age.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / inhibition.
Neuropsychological Data: Attention testing will be assessed with tests from Attention Test Battery,validated in french, assessing the attention of the subject.
Reaction times and errors are recorded in a simple Go/No-go test with two stimuli ""+"" and ""x"", of which only one (the ""x"") is critical
T Score are calculated from reaction time, compared to a data base adjusted for age.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Spatial Memory
Spatial memory testing will be assessed with the RUCHE-M test (Ruche Modified test).
Scoring is 1 point for every square accurately reproduced in the learning phase; the same scoring will apply for the 5-time recall (total 50 points). For scoring the recognition test, 10/10 is attributed if the participant finds the correct grid. 1 point is subtracted for every failure.
A lower score is attributed for lower performance in visual memory.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Global Memory Performance
Score ranging from 0 to theoretically infinity, defined as how much a subject could memorize in serial information. A higher score means higher performance in sequential memory learning.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Fluency
Score goes from 0 to theoretically 120; the number of names a subject can present starting with the same letter.
Performance is directly reflected in the score; higher scores report higher performances.
Measured: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Apr 2024
- Study start1 Oct 2024 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Why it stopped: Not realisable on time planned and with the academic funds
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (16)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Alzheimer DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Erasme University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Gil Leurquin-Sterk, MD,PhD, Principal investigator, Nuclear Medicine department of H.U.B. site Erasme.Xavier De Tiège, MD,PhD, Study chair, Laboratoire de Neuroanatomie et Neuroimagerie translationnelles Université Libre de Bruxelles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06391853
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SRB2023-183
- Other IDs
- 2023-508203-20-00, 2023
- Acronym
- Memori³
- Status last verified
- Mar 2024
- First submitted
- 8 Apr 2024
- Last updated
- 27 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All data will be shared on the CTIS database.
Publications
DeTure MA, Dickson DW. The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener. 2019 Aug 2;14(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13024-019-0333-5.
PubMed 31375134Jack CR Jr, Bennett DA, Blennow K, Carrillo MC, Dunn B, Haeberlein SB, Holtzman DM, Jagust W, Jessen F, Karlawish J, Liu E, Molinuevo JL, Montine T, Phelps C, Rankin KP, Rowe CC, Scheltens P, Siemers E, Snyder HM, Sperling R; Contributors. NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Apr;14(4):535-562. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.02.018.
PubMed 29653606Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet associated with reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Sep;11(9):1007-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.11.009. Epub 2015 Feb 11.
PubMed 25681666Dhana K, Aggarwal NT, Rajan KB, Barnes LL, Evans DA, Morris MC. Impact of the Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 Allele on the Relationship Between Healthy Lifestyle and Cognitive Decline: A Population-Based Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2021 Jul 1;190(7):1225-1233. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwab033.
PubMed 33585904Steen E, Terry BM, Rivera EJ, Cannon JL, Neely TR, Tavares R, Xu XJ, Wands JR, de la Monte SM. Impaired insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and signaling mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease--is this type 3 diabetes? J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Feb;7(1):63-80. doi: 10.3233/jad-2005-7107.
PubMed 15750215Tian S, Huang R, Han J, Cai R, Guo D, Lin H, Wang J, Wang S. Increased plasma Interleukin-1beta level is associated with memory deficits in type 2 diabetic patients with mild cognitive impairment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018 Oct;96:148-154. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.06.014. Epub 2018 Jun 22.
PubMed 29957442Gudala K, Bansal D, Schifano F, Bhansali A. Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. J Diabetes Investig. 2013 Nov 27;4(6):640-50. doi: 10.1111/jdi.12087. Epub 2013 Apr 26.
PubMed 24843720Ott A, Stolk RP, van Harskamp F, Pols HA, Hofman A, Breteler MM. Diabetes mellitus and the risk of dementia: The Rotterdam Study. Neurology. 1999 Dec 10;53(9):1937-42. doi: 10.1212/wnl.53.9.1937.
PubMed 10599761de la Monte SM, Wands JR. Alzheimer's disease is type 3 diabetes-evidence reviewed. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008 Nov;2(6):1101-13. doi: 10.1177/193229680800200619.
PubMed 19885299Nijssen KMR, Mensink RP, Joris PJ. Effects of Intranasal Insulin Administration on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Performance in Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Studies. Neuroendocrinology. 2023;113(1):1-13. doi: 10.1159/000526717. Epub 2022 Aug 24.
PubMed 36219990Shpakov AO, Zorina II, Derkach KV. Hot Spots for the Use of Intranasal Insulin: Cerebral Ischemia, Brain Injury, Diabetes Mellitus, Endocrine Disorders and Postoperative Delirium. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 7;24(4):3278. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043278.
PubMed 36834685Wu S, Stogios N, Hahn M, Navagnanavel J, Emami Z, Chintoh A, Gerretsen P, Graff-Guerrero A, Rajji TK, Remington G, Agarwal SM. Outcomes and clinical implications of intranasal insulin on cognition in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 28;18(6):e0286887. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286887. eCollection 2023.
PubMed 37379265Craft S, Baker LD, Montine TJ, Minoshima S, Watson GS, Claxton A, Arbuckle M, Callaghan M, Tsai E, Plymate SR, Green PS, Leverenz J, Cross D, Gerton B. Intranasal insulin therapy for Alzheimer disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a pilot clinical trial. Arch Neurol. 2012 Jan;69(1):29-38. doi: 10.1001/archneurol.2011.233. Epub 2011 Sep 12.
PubMed 21911655Schmid V, Kullmann S, Gfrorer W, Hund V, Hallschmid M, Lipp HP, Haring HU, Preissl H, Fritsche A, Heni M. Safety of intranasal human insulin: A review. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2018 Jul;20(7):1563-1577. doi: 10.1111/dom.13279. Epub 2018 Apr 6.
PubMed 29508509Rosenbloom MH, Barclay TR, Pyle M, Owens BL, Cagan AB, Anderson CP, Frey WH 2nd, Hanson LR. A single-dose pilot trial of intranasal rapid-acting insulin in apolipoprotein E4 carriers with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease. CNS Drugs. 2014 Dec;28(12):1185-9. doi: 10.1007/s40263-014-0214-y.
PubMed 25373630
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating Brain Insulin Resistance in Alzheimer Disease with Intra-Nasal Insulin Administration: a Multimodal Neuroimaging Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06391853
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Memori³ / SRB2023-183
- Conditions
- Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Keywords
- Intranasal Insulin
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- WithdrawnReason stopped: Not realisable on time planned and with the academic funds
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Erasme University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2024 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging (FDG-PET, fMRI, EEG), this research project will aim to further investigate in vivo brain insulin signalling by exploring the effects of acute INI administration on neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling, and on cortical electrical activity, both in individuals with normal cognitive function and those affected by Mild cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease .
Detailed description
Current pharmacological interventions mostly target symptoms. Most recently, disease-modifying therapies targeting beta-amyloid aggregation have been developed. Randomized controlled trials using these drugs (Lacenemab and Donanemab) in patients with early symptomatic AD showed a modest impact in terms of slowing cognitive decline and reducing amyloid biomarkers, associated with significant adverse effects. Yet, to date, no pharmacological intervention has been shown to reverse the loss in cognitive function associated with AD, nor to prevent the development of AD pathology. The risk of developing AD is influenced by both genetic and acquired factors, which include APOE genotype and insulin resistance. A better understanding of the association between insulin resistance and AD has important implications, both from a pathophysiological perspective and to foster the development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies. Observational studies have unambiguously demonstrated the bidirectional link between AD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, recent studies have shown that AD patients without T2DM have impaired insulin signalling at the brain level, which has led the field to define AD as "type 3 diabetes". Insulin is a hormone normally synthesized by the pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels and its utilization within the cells of our body, including the brain. To date, studies using intranasal insulin (INI) administration to investigate brain insulin signalling have shown significant variations in fMRI BOLD signal and improved cognition in healthy subjects. In AD patients, chronic INI administration for months showed that it significantly slowed down the progressive brain metabolism alteration as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and to reduce the ratio of tau on amyloids deposit levels in cerebro-spinal fluid(tau-P181 to CSF Aβ42). Taken together, these findings raise the possibility that insulin is modifying AD-related processes.However, the effects of acute INI administration on brain function and cognition in healthy and AD subjects is not fully characterized yet. Acute INI could help to identify pathophysiologic processes occurring after a single doses, mainly insulin signalling and not due to any long term exposure event (genetic expression or modulation of the receptors).
PET-FDG is a neuroimaging technique that enables the quantification of human brain metabolism. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) utilizes a magnetic field to capture high-precision structural information about the humain brain. Functional MRI (fMRI) extends the capabilities of traditional MRI by capturing information on the modulation of brain perfusion during tasks and resting state. Finally, electroencephalography (EEG) allows direct and dynamic acquisition of cortical electric activity and allow to study functional brain connectivity.
Using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging (FDG-PET, fMRI, EEG), this research project will aim to further investigate in vivo brain insulin signalling by exploring the effects of acute INI administration on neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling, and on cortical electrical activity, both in individuals with normal cognitive function and those affected by MCI/AD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intranasal Insulin then Placebo | Experimental | Drug: InsulinFirst day , participant will receive Intranasal Insulin (100IU insulin/ml) 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml (total dose =160UI) Second day participant will receive Placebo Intranasal , witch is saline solution (Nacl 0.9%). 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml |
| Placebo then Intranasal Insulin | Active comparator | Drug: PlaceboFirst day ,participant will receive Placebo Intranasal , witch is saline solution (Nacl 0.9%). 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml Second day, participant will receive Intranasal Insulin (100IU insulin/ml) 2 spray representing 0.8 ml in each nostril to achieve 1.6 ml (total dose =160UI) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (16 listed)
- Men and women aged 21-45 years old.
- Women under effective contraception.
- For Women, the study protocol should be performed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, because of …
- Subjects must be proficient in speaking, reading and understanding French in order to be assessed with the neuropsychological tests battery.
- Men and women aged 40-85 years old.
Key exclusion criteria (31 listed)
- Dense or tight hair braiding or scalp lesions, preventing adequate EEG cap positioning.
- Pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.
- Claustrophobia.
- Metallic component (e.g. pacemaker) incompatible with the MRI acquisition.
- Participants over 120 kg for radioprotection issues.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| InsulinAlso: FDG-PET, EEG, fMRIA venous line will be installed and an MRI-compatible EEG Cap (32 scalp electrodes) will be installed with conductive gel between the scalp and the electrode. Participants will receive 2 Intranasal spray. Participants will then be installed in the PET/MRI camera. At 30 min post INI administration, a continuous infusion of FDG will be started, along with dynamic PET acquisition while recording EEG and fMRI sequences. Participant will be asked to rest, eyes opened and awake to stay awake during the 55 minutes. At the end of the neuroimaging data acquisition, participants will be freed from EEG Cap and will undergo neuropsychologic evaluation.The final part of neuropsychological evaluation will be performed on week later, on the phone.. The total study time for each scanning day will be around 3h. | Drug | Intranasal Insulin then Placebo |
| PlaceboAlso: FDG-PET, EEG, fMRIA venous line will be installed and an MRI-compatible EEG Cap (32 scalp electrodes) will be installed with conductive gel between the scalp and the electrode. Participants will receive 2 Intranasal spray. Participants will then be installed in the PET/MRI camera. At 30 min post INI administration, a continuous infusion of FDG will be started, along with dynamic PET acquisition while recording EEG and fMRI sequences. Participant will be asked to rest, eyes opened and awake to stay awake during the 55 minutes. At the end of the neuroimaging data acquisition, participants will be freed from EEG Cap and will undergo neuropsychologic evaluation.The final part of neuropsychological evaluation will be performed on week later, on the phone.. The total study time for each scanning day will be around 3h. | Drug | Placebo then Intranasal Insulin |
Primary outcome
Effects of INI administration on FMRI data in the 3 groups
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
For brain fRMI data: BOLD signal variation (Arbitrary Unit from a percent change from baseline).
Effects of INI administration on PET-FDG regional standardized data in the 3 groups
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
For brain PET-FDG: regional SUV value(standardized Uptake Ratio) .The SUV is a mathematically derived ratio of tissue radioactivity concentration at a point in time at a specific region of interest and the injected dose of radioactivity per kilogram of the patient's body weight
Effects of INI administration on PET-FDG global data in the 3 groups
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
For brain PET-FDG: Statistical Parametric Mapping analysis (SPM) for voxel-wise groups comparison and multiple correlations (t-score)
Effects of INI administration on EEG connectivity data in the 3 groups
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Connectivity changes (SmallWorldness index σ , a quantitative method for determining canonical network equivalence,)
Effects of INI administration on EEG Frequency band data in the 3 groups
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Spectrum analysis of the power (Power of the EEG signal(µV²/Hz) plotted against frequency band in Hz)
10 secondary outcomes
Impact of gender on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact APOE (apolipoprotein E ) genetic status on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of Insulino-resistance scores ( Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance Scale (HOMA-IR) ), on Intranasal insulin administration responses
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on cognition and episodic memory
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / visual scanning
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / mental flexibility
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of intranasal insulin administration on attention / inhibition.
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Spatial Memory
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Global Memory Performance
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Impact of INI Administration on Fluency
Time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)
Results and safety
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Jan 2025.
- Background: PubMed 31375134DeTure MA, Dickson DW. The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener. 2019 Aug 2;14(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13024-019-0333-5.
- Background: PubMed 29653606Jack CR Jr, Bennett DA, Blennow K, Carrillo MC, Dunn B, Haeberlein SB, Holtzman DM, Jagust W, Jessen F, Karlawish J, Liu E, Molinuevo JL, Montine T, Phelps C, Rankin KP, Rowe CC, Scheltens P, Siemers E, Snyder HM, Sperling R; Contributors. NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Apr;14(4):535-562. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.02.018.
- Background: PubMed 25681666Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet associated with reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Sep;11(9):1007-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.11.009. Epub 2015 Feb 11.
- Background: PubMed 33585904Dhana K, Aggarwal NT, Rajan KB, Barnes LL, Evans DA, Morris MC. Impact of the Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 Allele on the Relationship Between Healthy Lifestyle and Cognitive Decline: A Population-Based Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2021 Jul 1;190(7):1225-1233. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwab033.
- Background: PubMed 15750215Steen E, Terry BM, Rivera EJ, Cannon JL, Neely TR, Tavares R, Xu XJ, Wands JR, de la Monte SM. Impaired insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and signaling mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease--is this type 3 diabetes? J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Feb;7(1):63-80. doi: 10.3233/jad-2005-7107.
- Background: PubMed 29957442Tian S, Huang R, Han J, Cai R, Guo D, Lin H, Wang J, Wang S. Increased plasma Interleukin-1beta level is associated with memory deficits in type 2 diabetic patients with mild cognitive impairment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018 Oct;96:148-154. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.06.014. Epub 2018 Jun 22.
- Background: PubMed 24843720Gudala K, Bansal D, Schifano F, Bhansali A. Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. J Diabetes Investig. 2013 Nov 27;4(6):640-50. doi: 10.1111/jdi.12087. Epub 2013 Apr 26.
- Background: PubMed 10599761Ott A, Stolk RP, van Harskamp F, Pols HA, Hofman A, Breteler MM. Diabetes mellitus and the risk of dementia: The Rotterdam Study. Neurology. 1999 Dec 10;53(9):1937-42. doi: 10.1212/wnl.53.9.1937.
- Background: PubMed 19885299de la Monte SM, Wands JR. Alzheimer's disease is type 3 diabetes-evidence reviewed. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008 Nov;2(6):1101-13. doi: 10.1177/193229680800200619.
- Background: PubMed 36219990Nijssen KMR, Mensink RP, Joris PJ. Effects of Intranasal Insulin Administration on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Performance in Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Studies. Neuroendocrinology. 2023;113(1):1-13. doi: 10.1159/000526717. Epub 2022 Aug 24.
- Background: PubMed 36834685Shpakov AO, Zorina II, Derkach KV. Hot Spots for the Use of Intranasal Insulin: Cerebral Ischemia, Brain Injury, Diabetes Mellitus, Endocrine Disorders and Postoperative Delirium. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 7;24(4):3278. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043278.
- Background: PubMed 37379265Wu S, Stogios N, Hahn M, Navagnanavel J, Emami Z, Chintoh A, Gerretsen P, Graff-Guerrero A, Rajji TK, Remington G, Agarwal SM. Outcomes and clinical implications of intranasal insulin on cognition in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 28;18(6):e0286887. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286887. eCollection 2023.
- The Global Impact of Dementia: An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trendsLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All data will be shared on the CTIS database.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Gil Leurquin-Sterk, MD,PhD principal investigator
Nuclear Medicine department of H.U.B. site Erasme.
Xavier De Tiège, MD,PhD study chair
Laboratoire de Neuroanatomie et Neuroimagerie translationnelles Université Libre de Bruxelles
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Insulin in people with Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by Erasme University Hospital.
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 16 inclusion and 31 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: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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.
Are results available for this study?
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Effects of INI administration on FMRI data in the 3 groups (time frame: end of acquisition for each group (each group of 30 subject estimated at 12 weeks after first subjet acquisition)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06391853, which also lists 16 linked publications.
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 Jan 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.