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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Dopaminergic Enhancement of Learning and Memory (LL_001, Project on Dementia/MCI)

Conditions
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Healthy, Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Levodopa


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria for patients with dementia: Patients: clinical diagnosis of AD or mild cognitive impairment primary language German Exclusion Criteria for healthy subjects and patients with dementia/MCI: Known allergy to levodopa or tetrazine History of medication/drug abuse Acute nicotine withdrawal or > 15 cigarettes per day > 6 cups/glasses of coffee, caffeine drinks or energy drinks per day > 50 grams of alcohol per day Severe hypertonia (systole >160 mm Hg) Severe arteriosclerosis Diabetes, asthma, or glaucoma Severe hearing disability no focal brain lesions Premorbid depression or psychosis Medication with dopamine agonists or antagonists Parkinsonian symptoms

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: Levodopa|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Long-term stability of learning performance after 1 month in healthy subjects. |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, MCI, levodopa, learning, enhancement