Antiglucocorticoid Therapy for Cognitive Impairment in Late-life Anxiety Disorders
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study seeks to develop and test a novel, mechanistic treatment for mitigating cognitive
impairment in older adults with anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are common, severe, and
disabling in older adults. One particularly impairing aspect of late-life anxiety disorders
is cognitive impairment: impairments in memory and executive function cause disability,
impede treatment response to psychotherapy, may lead to dementia, and are not corrected by
standard anti-anxiety treatments.
This pilot study will test the glucocorticoid antagonist, mifepristone, for cognitive
impairment in late-life anxiety disorders. Mifepristone blocks the effects of elevated
cortisol levels on glucocorticoid receptors in the brain; it has been studied preliminarily
in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as psychotic depression and bipolar disorder,
with well-documented safety and tolerability.
Phase:
Phase 1/Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Eric Lenze Washington University School of Medicine