The Effects of Kynurenine Aminotransferase Inhibition in People With Schizophrenia
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-03-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain. Studies with rodents
indicate that levels of KYNA can impact levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate and
dopamine. One way to reliably increase KYNA levels is by ingesting the amino acid tryptophan.
Tryptophan is a normal part of the human diet. Tryptophan gets metabolized/changed to other
chemicals in the body- including KYNA. By giving people 6 grams of tryptophan, the
investigators will be able to increase the KYNA level in a controlled way. The investigators
will then be able to study the effects of KYNA on neurotransmitters by using cognitive tests
and magnetic resonance imaging techniques (measuring brain activity and brain chemistry using
the MRI magnet).
The overall goal of the study is to examine how the medication N-acetylcysteine (NAC), when
added to tryptophan, affects various cognitive functions, such as verbal and visual memory.
The investigators will also use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine how NAC affects
brain activity and chemicals.
Phase:
Phase 1/Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Maryland University of Maryland, Baltimore