Characterization of the Serotonin 2A Receptor Selective PET Tracer [18F]MH.MZ in Patients With Neurodegenerative Diseases

Launched by VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · Apr 26, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a specific brain receptor, called the 5HT2A receptor, works in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and related conditions. Researchers believe that these patients might show different receptor activity compared to healthy individuals of similar age and gender. To test this, they will use a special imaging technique called PET scanning to measure the levels of these receptors in both groups.

To participate, individuals must be diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson's or other related disorders. Healthy participants will need to be matched by age and gender to those in the patient group. It’s important that participants have a study partner to help during the visits. People with certain medical issues, recent use of certain medications, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding will not be eligible. Those who join can expect to undergo PET scans and complete some cognitive tests, helping to uncover valuable information about these diseases and their effects on the brain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patient arm - clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, multiple systems atrophy, Huntington's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and other variants
• • Healthy arm - age and gender matched to patient arm
• • Psychosis (presence of hallucinations or delusions) starting after the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, occurring at least weekly for 4 weeks, severe enough to warrant treatment.
• • Study partner available for study visits
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Prior stroke or other uncontrolled serious neurological or medical illness
• • Contra-indication or inability to tolerate MRI scan
• • Use of serotonergic medications in the last 6 weeks
• • Incapable of providing independent consent.
• • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• • psychosis due to a metabolic, toxic, or primary psychiatric disease
• • Deemed unable to complete neurocognitive testing
• • For PD Participants: current or prior use of pimavanserin
• • Use of antipsychotics in the last 2 weeks