Seizure Activity in Alzheimer's Disease

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2017-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The main purpose of this research project is to study how seizure-like activity affects the blood flow in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Changes in blood flow can change memory and thinking ability, as happens in Alzheimer's disease. The investigators are using a study drug called Levetiracetam, which helps control seizure-like activity to see if it can help change the abnormal blood flow in the brain that is seen in some people with Alzheimer's disease.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Treatments: Etiracetam; Levetiracetam; Piracetam

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meets the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease

• Mild AD (MMSE ≥ 20)

• Age >= 50 years

• English as first language

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of seizures prior to the onset of AD

• Familial Alzheimer's Disease due to known genetic mutations

• Current use of an antiepileptic medication

• Current use of a medication known to lower seizure threshold (e.g. bupropion or a neuroleptic)

• Presence of parkinsonism

• Significant cerebrovascular disease

• Other Central Nervous System disease (e.g. stroke, severe traumatic brain injury)

• Major depression or other psychiatric or behavioral disorders (psychosis, agitation)

• Medical contraindication to MRI (e.g. pacemaker, intraocular or intracranial metallic objects)

• Severe claustrophobia or inability to lie flat for MRI

• Known allergy to levetiracetam, or history of previous adverse reaction to levetiracetam

• Serum creatinine >= 2

• A score of >9 on the Geriatric Depression Scale