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Find more clinical trials

Escitalopram's Effects on Amyloid Beta

Start: June 2014
End: January 2019
Enrollment: 60

What Is This Study About?

Preliminary evidence indicates that certain antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) lower the amount of Alzheimer's-related amyloid plaques in the human brain. This study will test the effects of the SSRI escitalopram on levels of amyloid beta, the major component of plaques, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of cognitively normal older adults.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Minimum Age: 65 Years

Maximum Age: 85 Years

Must have:

  • English speaking
  • Cognitively normal (Clinical Dementia Rating of 0)

Must NOT have:

  • Known history of severe allergy or hypersensitivity to citalopram, escitalopram, or other relevant drugs
  • Diagnosis of major depression
  • Previous history of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, cognitive impairment, or dementia
  • Diagnosis of a chronic psychiatric illness
  • Significant hearing or visual impairment
  • Bleeding diathesis
  • Clinically significant hepatic, renal, pulmonary, metabolic, or endocrine disturbances that may pose a potential safety risk to the participant
  • Current clinically significant cardiovascular disease, such as: cardiac surgery or myocardial infarction within the last 4 weeks; unstable angina; acute decompensated congestive heart failure or class IV heart failure; cardiac arrhythmia or conduction disturbance, particularly those resulting in ventricular fibrillation or causing syncope or near syncope; uncontrolled high blood pressure; QTc greater than 450 msec (by history for subjects with cardiac disease); documented prior stroke; clinically significant abnormalities on electrocardiogram
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse within the last year or prior prolonged history of abuse
  • Prohibited medications: any investigational medicine within the past 30 days; Coumadin (warfarin) or other blood thinners within the past 6 months; any antipsychotic or antidepressant medication; use of the drug/drug classes pimozide, triptans, tricyclics, lithium, or tramadol; over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's wort

If I Qualify, Who Do I Contact?

Contact study personnel listed either under the general study contact or the location nearest you.

Need Help?

Contact NIA’s Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center at 800-438-4380 or email ADEAR.

Where Is This Study Located?

Who Sponsors This Study?

Lead: University of Pennsylvania

Collaborator Sponsor

  • Washington University Early Recognition Center

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02161458

alzheimers.gov

An official website of the U.S. government, managed by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health