Semaglutide and Cognition in Healthy Volunteers

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · Apr 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a medication called semaglutide, which is already approved for treating type-2 diabetes and obesity. Researchers want to explore how semaglutide might affect thinking and energy levels in healthy adults. By understanding these effects, they hope to learn more about how this medication interacts with brain functions and overall well-being.

To participate in this study, you need to be between 21 and 55 years old, have a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 30, and be fluent in English. It’s important that you are not taking other regular medications (except birth control) and have no significant medical or psychiatric conditions. If you join the trial, you will help researchers gather valuable information, and you can expect to complete some tasks related to cognitive abilities and energy. This research could provide insights that benefit future treatments for cognitive health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Male or female
• • Aged from 21 to 55 years
• • Body Mass Index (BMI) from 18 to 30 (because our main outcomes involve cognitive and energy measures, this decision regarding the BMI range has been taken with the purpose of including a more homogeneous sample of healthy participants in terms of baseline cognitive and energy levels)
• • Sufficiently fluent English to understand and complete the tasks
• • Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research
• • Not currently taking any regular medications (except the contraceptive pill)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Currently on any regular prescribed medications (except the contraceptive pill), unless unlikely to compromise safety or affect data quality in the opinion of the medical supervisor according to clinical judgement
• • History of, or current significant psychiatric illness in the opinion of the medical supervisor according to clinical judgement
• • Current alcohol or substance misuse disorder (\<6 months)
• • Current moderate or severe dyslexia
• • History of, or current significant medical illness in the opinion of the medical supervisor according to clinical judgement
• • History of, or current pancreatitis
• • History of, or current severe congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, hepatic disease
• • History of, or current significant neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy)
• • History of, or current significant thyroid disorder
• • History (including family history) of, or current multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type-2 (MEN 2) or medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• • Known type-1 or type-2 diabetes mellitus
• • Known hypersensitivity to the study drug (i.e., semaglutide)
• • Pregnant, breast feeding, or person of child-bearing potential not using appropriate contraceptive measures including hormonal contraception, intrauterine device, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner, condom, absolute sexual abstinence - periodic sexual abstinence, withdrawal, and spermicides-only are not acceptable methods of contraception
• • Participation in a study that uses the same or similar computer tasks (O-ETB, see below) as those used in the present study
• • Participation in a study that involves the use of a medication within the last 3 months