Effect of Testosterone Therapy in Men With Alzheimer's Disease and Low Testosterone
Information source: VA Medical Center, Houston
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on October 19, 2009
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Alzheimer's Disease; Hypogonadism
Intervention: AndroGel (Solvay Pharmaceuticals) (Drug)
Phase: N/A
Status: Recruiting
Sponsored by: VA Medical Center, Houston Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Robert S. Tan, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
Overall contact:
Robert S. Tan, MD, Phone: 713-794-7382, Email: Robert.Tan@med.va.gov
Summary
Treatment with testosterone can improve performance on tests of spatial ability in men with
low testosterone levels and Alzheimer's disease. Improved performance on these tests may
mean an improved ability to get around in one's environment without getting lost or injured.
This could have a positive impact on both patients and those who care for them. We will
investigate what areas of the brain are involved in these improvements in spatial ability.
This will be done using a PET scan, which creates a 3-dimensional image of the brain that
can allow us to see how the brain functions.
Clinical Details
Official title: A Pilot Study of the Effect of Testosterone on Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Hypogonadal Males With Alzheimer's Disease
Study design: Treatment, Non-Randomized, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single Group Assignment, Pharmacokinetics Study
Primary outcome: Calculated difference image of pre-treatment and on-treatment PET scans.
Secondary outcome: Change in cognitive function at 8-week intervals over a 6-month period.
Detailed description:
Volunteers will be treated with a prescription testosterone gel applied to the shoulder or
other body area each day. This treatment will continue for 6 months. Subjects will undergo a
PET scan at the beginning of the study and after approximately 2 months of treatment.
Subjects will undergo some cognitive testing throughout the study.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 55 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Male.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-V)
- Total testosterone < 300 ng/dL and/or calculated free testosterone < 50 pg/ml
- Sufficient English to perform cognitive testing
- Stable on concomitant medications for 1 month prior to starting study
Exclusion Criteria:
- history of prostate cancer
- history of breast cancer
- gonadal endocrine disorders
- current major psychiatric illness (excluding depression)
- significant uncontrolled systemic illness
- recent myocardial infarction (within 6 months)
- renal or hepatic disease, sleep apnea
- history of alcoholism or substance abuse within the past year
- history of head injury with loss of consciousness greater than 1 hour
- testosterone or other androgen treatment within past 3 months
- history of taking other drugs that might interfere with the results of the study (ie,
spironolactone, cimetidine, antiandrogens, estrogens, p450 enzyme inducers,
barbiturates)
- symptomatic BPH: prostatic symptoms, prostatic masses or induration on rectal
examination
- prostate specific antigen (PSA) >4. 0 mg/mL
- hemoglobin > 17 mg/dL
- generalized skin disease that could affect the absorption of testosterone gel (ie,
psoriasis).
- potentially agitated or uncooperative for procedures
Locations and Contacts
Robert S. Tan, MD, Phone: 713-794-7382, Email: Robert.Tan@med.va.gov
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States; Recruiting
Maurita Carrejo, MS, Phone: 713-794-8766, Email: Maurita.Carrejo@med.va.gov
Additional Information
Starting date: April 2007
Ending date: December 2009
Last updated: March 3, 2009
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