A Pilot of the Feasibility of Using the Iron-Chelator Deferiprone on Mild Cognitive Impairment

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status and phase: Withdrawn; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment

Treatments: Other: Placebo phase; Drug: Deferiprone

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02878538

HSC20160395H (Other Identifier)

P30AG044271

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators propose to conduct a series of N of One (No1) single blinded clinical trials to pilot the feasibility of using the iron-chelator deferiprone on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Chelation therapy has previously been reported to slow the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by 50% in a single human randomized clinical trial.

Full description

Iron chelation's mechanism of action (MOA) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is uncertain. Potential MOA include reversal of aluminum (AL) toxicity, the prevention of a-beta aggregation, β-amyloid disaggregation, and the obstruction of microbacterial and viral parasitism. The latter mechanism involves augmentation of innate immunity, and disruption of microbacterial iron metabolism. Infectious models of AD's pathophysiology have been recently proposed. Iron blocks toll-like receptor (TLR) initiated anti-microbial actions mediated via gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). These biomarkers are of interest because they have also been associated with our novel latent dementia phenotype (i.e., "d" for "dementia") in the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC). "d" is a continuous measure of dementia severity that can be constructed from any cognitive battery that also includes a measure of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Serum biomarkers might "trigger" dementing processes without participating in their later stages. Thus, the investigators have indications as to who might benefit from iron-chelation and when the intervention might be best applied. This knowledge may help them detect an effect of deferiprone on prospective change in "d" and even on MCI conversion in TARCC NHW (Non Hispanic White) subjects.

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. MA (Mexican Americans) or NHW TARCC participants with competent informants;
2. TARCC diagnosis of "MCI" (any subtype);
3. Incident MCI or conversion to MCI from control in the two previous TARCC waves;
4. 65-80 yrs of age;
5. Non-institutionalized level of care;
6. Capacity to give informed consent
7. GDS (Geriatric Depression Screen) score (15 item) ≤ 6;
8. TARCC MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) ≥ 26 /30;
9. HIS (Hachinski Ischemic Scale) ≤ 05/15;
10. Most recent TARCC dEQ-score = 0 ± 0.25.

Exclusion criteria

1. A clinical diagnosis of "Diabetes Mellitus" and current treatment with insulin;
2. A self-reported diagnosis of "Major Depression" (treatment with "antidepressants" not exclusionary);
3. A history of psychosis, including visual hallucinations;
4. History or treatment for Parkinson's, or tremor, or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) behavior disorder;
5. History or treatment for atrial fibrillation;
6. Treatment for cancer in the last 5 years (exc. skin cancers);
7. Major surgery in the last year;
8. History of craniotomy;
9. Serum Ferritin < 500mcg/ml, Hgb < 14g/dl♂ /12g/dl♀,, HCT < 45%♂ /40%♀, recent blood transfusion (last 5 years), FeSO4 supplementation, erythromycin therapy;
10. ANC (absolute neutrophil count) < 500 cells/µL, platelet count < 150 × 106 /ml;
11. Treatment with anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, neuroleptics, opiates, muscle relaxants, systemic steroids, or AD-indicated agents.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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0 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

deferiprone

Active Comparator group

Description:

Deferiprone will be administered three times a day (25mg/kg). Total dose per day will depend on participants' body weight for one, three month block.

Treatment:

Drug: Deferiprone

Placebo Phase

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo tablets with inactive substance will be used. Total number of placebo tablets will be equivalent to the active tablets administered depending on participants' body weight for two, three month blocks.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo phase