1/2-Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression (The D3 Study)
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2027-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Growing evidence suggests that dopamine contributes to key cognitive, emotional, and motor
functions across the lifespan. In Late-Life Depression (LLD), dysfunction in these areas is
common, predicts poor outcomes, and manifests as difficulties in motivation and effort along
with cognitive and gait impairment. While studies of dopamine function in early and midlife
depression primarily focus on individuals' ability to feel pleasure and respond to rewards,
they often exclude the cognitive and physical function domains relevant for older adults
despite a recognized decline in dopamine function with normal aging. The objectives of this
collaborative R01 proposal between Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute
and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are to: 1) characterize dopaminergic dysfunction in
LLD across cognitive, emotional, and motor domains at several levels of analysis (cellular
Positron Emission Tomography [PET], circuit Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI], and behavioral
/ self-report); and 2) examine the responsivity of dopamine-related circuits and behavior to
stimulation with carbidopa/levodopa (L-DOPA).
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Collaborators:
Columbia University Emory University National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Treatments:
Carbidopa Carbidopa, levodopa drug combination Levodopa