No Placebo Group
Every participant receives an active treatment — no one gets a placebo.
Healthy Volunteers Welcome
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
No Study Drug
Researchers observe your health over time — no experimental treatment is given.
Ready to participate?
Review the details below, then apply to join this clinical trial.
At a Glance
Age
50 – 85
Sex
Any
Study type
Observational
Participants needed
30 (estimated)
Sponsor
University of Exeter · Other
Who this trial is looking for
Think this trial could be right for you?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you may meet the eligibility requirements.
It is not known what causes Parkinson's disease and what makes it worsen over time. Research conducted in the past few years has highlighted the possible role of inflammation on this process but its actual mechanisms are still obscure.
In this study, the investigators aim to gain understanding on how inflammation is increased in Parkinson's disease and what are its mechanisms, by performing two P…
It is not known what causes Parkinson's disease and what makes it worsen over time. Research conducted in the past few years has highlighted the possible role of inflammation on this process but its actual mechanisms are still obscure.
In this study, the investigators aim to gain understanding on how inflammation is increased in Parkinson's disease and what are its mechanisms, by performing two Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans using the tracer \[11C\]PBR28, that takes pictures of the brain highlighting the areas of inflammation, before and after the administration of a compound called Lipopolysaccharide or LPS, that is known to cause a mild degree of inflammation. The investigators will couple this study with two venous blood draws to measure the levels of circulating molecules of inflammation.
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Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria (all):
* 50-85 years of age, male or female
* Able to give informed consent
* Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
* No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
* BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
* No presence…
Inclusion Criteria (all):
* 50-85 years of age, male or female
* Able to give informed consent
* Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
* No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
* BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
* No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
* Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases
* Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening)
* Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
* Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
* Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
Inclusion Criteria (Parkinson's disease patients):
* 50-85 years of age, male or female
* Able to give informed consent
* Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
* No presence or history of other significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
* Diagnosis of PD according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (Postuma et al., Mov Disord 2015)
* Drug-naïve participants with PD must have a diagnosis of PD but must be therapy-free at the time of enrolment
* For participants with PD-MCI: diagnosis of MCI according the diagnostic criteria for MCI-PD (Level I; Litvan et al., Mov Disord 2012) and/or MoCA \< 23
* For participants with PD taking dopaminergic therapy: must be in stable therapy (i.e. not have changed therapy in the last 60 days)
* Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
* Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
* Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
For participants with iRBD:
Inclusion criteria:
* 40-85 years of age, male or female
* Able to give informed consent
* Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
* No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
* BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression
* No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
* Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases
* Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening)
* Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
* Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
* Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
* Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
* Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
Exclusion Criteria (all):
* Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
* Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
* BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
* Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing
* Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
* Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids
* Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
* Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
* Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
* Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
* Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis
* History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
* History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
* Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
* Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
* Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
* Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
* Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
Exclusion Criteria (Parkinson's disease patients):
* Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
* Current or recent history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
* BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
* Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood or urine testing
* Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
* Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids.
* Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
* Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
* Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
* Presence of other neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
* History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
* Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
* History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
* Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
* Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
* Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
* Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
* Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
Exclusion criteria (for participants with iRBD):
* Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
* Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
* BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression
* Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing
* Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
* Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids
* Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
* Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
* Use of any of the following drugs that might interfere with dopamine transporter SPECT imaging: Ephedrine, ketamine, isoflurane, cocaine, methylphenidate, amphetamine of any amphetamine derivatives, mazindol, modafinil, benztropine, fentanyl, derivatives, buproprion, phentermine neuroleptics, metoclopramide, alpha methyldopa, , reserpine, .
* Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
* Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
* Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, or viral hepatitis
* History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
* History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
* Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
* Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
* Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
* Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
* Evidence of presynaptic dopaminergic denervation on \[123I\]FP-CIT SPECT
* Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
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