Clinical Trial: Treatment for Early Memory Loss

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Cognitive Enhancers Explored With PET Imaging

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of donepezil (Aricept) for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly adults. This study will also determine whether adding ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) enhances the effects of donepezil.

Detailed Summary:

Cognition involves important thinking processes such as perception, learning, and reasoning. There are currently no definitive treatments for cognitive deterioration. This study focuses on elderly individuals with MCI because people at a pre-dementia stage may sustain the greatest and most lasting benefit from cognitive-enhancing agents.

Patients receive either donepezil or placebo for the first 6 months of the study. In the second 6 months of the study, patients are randomized to receive either donepezil plus GBE or donepezil alone. Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which provides a color-coded image of the brain's blood flow in a particular area, is used to assess brain activity during memory tasks. A PET scan is performed at study entry, 6 months, and 1 year. A vasodilator (a drug that dilates the blood vessels) is administered during the PET imaging procedure to determine whether vascular disease affects memory function. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is also taken to view the brain.

Sponsor: University of Iowa

Current Primary Outcome:

Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of Iowa

Dates:
Date Received: July 24, 2002
Date Started: June 2002
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 27, 2014
Last Verified: February 2014