scholarly journals Senolytic Therapy to Modulate the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (SToMP-AD): A Pilot Clinical Trial

Author(s):  
M.M. Gonzales ◽  
V.R. Garbarino ◽  
E. Marques Zilli ◽  
R.C. Petersen ◽  
J.L. Kirkland ◽  
...  

Preclinical studies indicate an age-associated accumulation of senescent cells across multiple organ systems. Emerging evidence suggests that tau protein accumulation, which closely correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies, drives cellular senescence in the brain. Pharmacologically clearing senescent cells in mouse models of tauopathy reduced brain pathogenesis. Compared to vehicle treated mice, intermittent senolytic administration reduced tau accumulation and neuroinflammation, preserved neuronal and synaptic density, restored aberrant cerebral blood flow, and reduced ventricular enlargement. Intermittent dosing of the senolytics, dasatinib plus quercetin, has shown an acceptable safety profile in clinical studies for other senescence-associated conditions. With these data, we proposed and herein describe the objectives and methods for a clinical vanguard study. This initial open-label clinical trial pilots an intermittent senolytic combination therapy of dasatinib plus quercetin in five older adults with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The primary objective is to evaluate the central nervous system penetration of dasatinib and quercetin through analysis of cerebrospinal fluid collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Further, through a series of secondary outcome measures to assess target engagement of the senolytic compounds and Alzheimer’s disease-relevant cognitive, functional, and physical outcomes, we will collect preliminary data on safety, feasibility, and efficacy. The results of this study will be used to inform the development of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter phase II trial to further explore of the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of senolytics for modulating the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Clinicaltrials.gov registration number and date: NCT04063124 (08/21/2019).

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 1483-1493
Author(s):  
Prasad R. Padala ◽  
Eugenia M. Boozer ◽  
Shelly Y. Lensing ◽  
Christopher M. Parkes ◽  
Cassandra R. Hunter ◽  
...  

Background: Apathy, a profound loss of motivation, initiation, and goal directed cognition, is a common comorbidity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The presence of apathy is associated with rapid progression of AD, long-term impairment, disability, and higher mortality. Pharmacological treatments of apathy are limited. Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for apathy in AD. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, sham-controlled pilot study was conducted in subjects with AD and apathy (N = 20). Subjects were randomized to rTMS or sham treatment (5 days/week) for four weeks. Primary outcome, apathy evaluation scale-clinician version (AES-C), and secondary outcome measures, modified-Mini Mental State Examination (3MS), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and clinical global impression (CGI), were assessed at baseline and four weeks. Follow-up visits were conducted at 8 and 12 weeks to test the durability of effects of intervention. Results: Mean age was 77.3 (±7.2) years, 80% were Caucasians and 10% were females. After adjusting for baseline, there was a significantly greater improvement in the AES-C with rTMS compared to sham treatment (–10.1 (–15.9 to –4.3); t (16)  = –3.69; p = 0.002) at 4 weeks. There was also significantly greater improvement in 3MS (6.9 (1.7 to 12.0); t (15)  = 2.85; p = 0.012), IADL (3.4 (1.0 to 5.9); χ21 = 7.72; p = 0.006), CGI-S (1.4 (0.5 to 2.3), t (16)  = 3.29; p = 0.005), and CGI-I (–2.56 (–3.5 to –1.6), t (17)  = –5.72; p < 0.001) for rTMS compared to the sham at 4 weeks. The effects of rTMS were durable at 12 weeks. Conclusion: rTMS may be safely used in subjects with AD and may improve apathy, function, and some aspects of cognition.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Yang Santos ◽  
Christine Getter ◽  
John Stoukides ◽  
Brian Ott ◽  
Stephen Salloway ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The precise mechanisms whereby cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have not been delineated. We reported that microvessels isolated from AD brains overexpress a diverse array of neurotoxic and inflammatory proteins, which is consistent with the process of vascular activation. In pre-clinical studies using AD animal models we showed that a vascular activation inhibitor reduced vascular-derived neuroinflammation and improved cognitive performance. Thrombin is a key mediator of cerebrovascular activation in AD. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the safety and potential efficacy of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD to decrease vascular-derived neuroinflammation and improve cognitive performance. METHODS Participants will be enrolled then evaluated quarterly throughout the 24-month study. This is a 24-month randomized-control, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, delayed-start, pilot study evaluating thrombin inhibition in people with biomarker-confirmed MCI probably due to AD or mild AD. 40 - 60 participants will be recruited between 50 - 85 years old. In the initial 9-months of study, either dabigatran or placebo will be orally administered to patients at a dose of 150 mg per day. After 9 months of the placebo-control (Phase I), the placebo arm will cross-over to an active, open-label (Phase II) where all patients will be treated with a 150 mg daily dose of dabigatran orally for an additional 12 months. A 3-month non-treatment follow-up period will assess duration of effects. RESULTS Beginning in July 2019, and concluding in August 2022, this study is expected to publish final results in January 2023. CONCLUSIONS BEACON is a first-in-kind randomized clinical trial targeting thrombin activation in AD therapeutics. This trial will stimulate translational investigations of an FDA-approved drugs in a newly defined therapeutic areas. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03752294


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Farokhnia ◽  
Mehdi Shafiee Sabet ◽  
Negar Iranpour ◽  
Amirhossein Gougol ◽  
Habibeh Yekehtaz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shifu Xiao ◽  
Piu Chan ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Zhen Hong ◽  
Shuzhen Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background New therapies are urgently needed for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sodium oligomannate (GV-971) is a marine-derived oligosaccharide with a novel proposed mechanism of action. The first phase 3 clinical trial of GV-971 has been completed in China. Methods We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in participants with mild-to-moderate AD to assess GV-971 efficacy and safety. Participants were randomized to placebo or GV-971 (900 mg) for 36 weeks. The primary outcome was the drug-placebo difference in change from baseline on the 12-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog12). Secondary endpoints were drug-placebo differences on the Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC+), Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Safety and tolerability were monitored. Results A total of 818 participants were randomized: 408 to GV-971 and 410 to placebo. A significant drug-placebo difference on the ADAS-Cog12 favoring GV-971 was present at each measurement time point, measurable at the week 4 visit and continuing throughout the trial. The difference between the groups in change from baseline was − 2.15 points (95% confidence interval, − 3.07 to − 1.23; p < 0.0001; effect size 0.531) after 36 weeks of treatment. Treatment-emergent adverse event incidence was comparable between active treatment and placebo (73.9%, 75.4%). Two deaths determined to be unrelated to drug effects occurred in the GV-971 group. Conclusions GV-971 demonstrated significant efficacy in improving cognition with sustained improvement across all observation periods of a 36-week trial. GV-971 was safe and well-tolerated. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02293915. Registered on November 19, 2014


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shifu Xiao ◽  
Piu Chan ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Zhen Hong ◽  
Shuzhen Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: New therapies are urgently needed for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sodium oligomannate (GV-971) is a marine-derived oligosaccharide which reconstitutes gut microbiota, reduces neuroinflammation, decreases amyloid deposition, and improves cognition in AD animal models. The first phase 3 clinical trial of GV-971 has been completed in China. Methods: We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in participants with mild-to-moderate AD to assess GV-971 efficacy and safety. Participants were randomized to placebo or GV-971 (900 mg) for 36 weeks. The primary outcome was the drug-placebo difference in change from baseline on the 12-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog12). Secondary endpoints were drug-placebo differences on the Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC+), Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Safety and tolerability were monitored. Results: 818 participants were randomized: 408 to GV-971 and 410 to placebo. A significant drug-placebo difference on the ADAS-Cog12 favoring GV-971 was present at each measurement time-point, measurable at the week 4 visit and continuing throughout the trial. The difference between groups in change from baseline was −2.15 points (95% confidence interval, −3.07 to −1.23; P<0.0001; effect size 0.531) after 36 weeks treatment. Treatment-emergent adverse event incidence was comparable between active treatment and placebo (73.9%, 75.4%). Two deaths determined to be unrelated to drug effects occurred in the GV-971 group.Conclusions: GV-971 demonstrated significant efficacy in improving cognition with sustained improvement across all observation periods of a 36-week trial. GV-971 was safe and well tolerated. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02293915. Registered on November 19, 2014.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (4S_Part_8) ◽  
pp. P248-P248
Author(s):  
Anton Alvarez ◽  
Ramon Cacabelos ◽  
Manuel Aleixandre ◽  
Carlos Linares ◽  
Elias Granizo ◽  
...  

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