L-DOPA vs. Placebo for Depression and Psychomotor Slowing in Older Adults
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-11-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Individuals with Late Life Depression (LLD) often have cognitive problems, particularly
problems with memory, attention, and problem solving, all of which contribute to
antidepressant non-response. Our group and others have shown that decreased thinking speed is
the central cause of functional problems in patients with LLD. Similarly, decreased walking
speed is associated with depression and carries additional risk for falls, hospitalization,
and death. Available evidence suggests that declining functionality in the brain's dopamine
system contributes to age-related cognitive and motor slowing. The central hypothesis of this
study is that by enhancing dopamine functioning in the brain and improving cognitive and
motor slowing, administration of carbidopa/levodopa (L-DOPA) will improve depressive symptoms
in older adults.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Collaborator:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Treatments:
Carbidopa Carbidopa, levodopa drug combination Levodopa