A Pilot Study of Inflammatory Markers in Alzheimer's Disease

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 2009-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Alzheimer's disease for biomarkers of inflammation and their response to the antibiotics doxycycline and rifampin. The results of this preliminary analysis will be used in defining the direction of further research.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: McMaster University
• Collaborator: The Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation
• Treatments: Doxycycline; Rifampin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Giving informed consent to lumbar puncture

• Participation in the DARAD clinical trial which requires the following:

• diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease

• SMMSE 14-26 inclusive

• community-dwelling

• age 50 or greater

• caregiver to monitor study medication and report on ADLs, behaviour, etc.

• adequate English literacy to complete neuropsychological testing

• generally stable level of health

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to lumbar puncture

• DARAD exclusion criteria as follows:

• dementia due to other neurodegenerative diseases

• cognitive impairment due to head trauma, etc.

• stroke or significant cerebrovascular disease

• clinically significant cardiac disease such as recent MI, uncontrolled hypertension

• taking other anti-dementia treatments or investigational drugs

• allergy to doxycycline or rifampin

• significant psychiatric conditions like depression

• cancer