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Understanding why thinking abilities fluctuate in Lewy body dementia

Researchers use biological markers and brain scans to study changes in a brain signalling system and fluctuations in thinking.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: NCT07284290

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

This registry record was last updated over six months ago, or its update date is missing. Recruitment may have changed. Confirm with the team before making plans.

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Looking for volunteers

Start (reported actual date)
2025-12-08
Main measurements finished (planned)
2029-11
Study finished (planned)
2029-11

Planned dates can move. A study finishing does not tell us when a paper will be published.

No results summary has been confirmed in the registry records we imported. See connected papers below; we keep checking after recruitment ends.

Changes we have recorded
  • 2026-10-11 — recruiting

These are dates we observed a change, not necessarily the dates it happened.

Papers connected to this study

No connected paper has been found yet. The tracker checks the growing library for study identifiers and registry-linked publications.

Who can join?

Ages 50 years to 89 years · Also accepts healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: Arm 1: * Age range: 50 ≤ age \< 90. * Diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson disease dementia (PDD), Parkinson disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI), Mild Cognitive Impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB). * DLB participants must fulfill criteria for clinically probable DLB based on the 2017 4th consensus report of the DLB consortium. * PDD participants must meet criteria for clinically probable PD according to the MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease and must also meet criteria for probable PDD based on the 2007 Movement Disorders Society clinical diagnostic criteria. * PD-MCI participants must meet criteria for clinically probable PD according to the MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease and meet criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment on cognitive testing at screening. * MCI-LB participants with must meet established research criteria. * Capacity to provide informed consent or, if unable, availability of a legally authorized representative or guardian who can provide informed consent. * Availability of informant (for participants meeting criteria for dementia). * Ability and willingness to comply with the study-related procedures. * Fluent in spoken and written English (due to cognitive testing) Exclusion Criteria: Arm 1 * History of cognitive disorder or psychiatric disorder other than that related to dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson disease dementia. * History of deep brain stimulation or any neurosurgical procedure. * History of structural brain disease or known significant cerebrovascular disease. * History of seizures or epilepsy and/or use of sodium channel blockers, i.e. carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, topiramate, lamotrigine, felbamate, zonisamide, rufinamide, lacosamide, eslicarbazepine, and valproate. * Greater than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and one per day for women. * Regular use of benzodiazepines or barbiturates. (If benzodiazepines are taken as needed only, these medications cannot be taken within 5 half-lives of screening visit or between screening visit and EEG.) * Severe dementia (based on PI assessment of subject dependence level for instrumental activities of daily living) * Any contraindication to brain MRI. * Any medical condition that would interfere with ability to complete all study procedures. * Participants must not be pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or father a child for the duration of the study Inclusion Criteria: Arm 2 (Cholinesterase inhibitor cohort) inclusion criteria: * Completed Aim 1. * Clinical diagnosis of LBD (DLB or PDD) with CF. * Not taking a cholinesterase inhibitor and has not taken a cholinesterase inhibitor in the previous 90 days. * Ability and willingness to comply with the ChEI Cohort procedures (including galantamine administration), or a caregiver willing and able to ensure compliance. Exclusion Criteria: Arm 2 (Cholinesterase inhibitor cohort) exclusion criteria: * Severe hepatic impairment. * Renal failure. * Significant bradycardia (\<50 bpm) at screening or history of AV block. * Any contraindication to galantamine administration based on PI discretion. Inclusion criteria: Arm 3 (Healthy Controls) * Age range: 50 ≤ age \< 90. * Healthy controls should not have any known neurologic conditions that could interfere with study procedures or results. * Capacity to provide informed consent or, if unable, availability of a legally authorized representative or guardian who can provide informed consent. * Availability of informant (for participants meeting criteria for dementia). * Ability and willingness to comply with the study-related procedures. * Fluent in spoken and written English (due to cognitive testing). Exclusion Criteria: Arm 3 (Healthy Controls) * No History of cognitive disorder or psychiatric disorder other than that related to dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson disease dementia. * No History of deep brain stimulation or any neurosurgical procedure. * No History of structural brain disease or known significant cerebrovascular disease. * No History of seizures or epilepsy and/or use of sodium channel blockers, i.e. carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, topiramate, lamotrigine, felbamate, zonisamide, rufinamide, lacosamide, eslicarbazepine, and valproate. * Any medical condition that would interfere with ability to complete all study procedures. * Participants must not be pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or father a child for the duration of the study
Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Elucidating the Role of Cholinergic Degeneration in Cognitive Fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia

Original description

The proposed study aims to address the critical gaps in understanding the mechanisms of CF (Cognitive Fluctuations) by leveraging recently emerged molecular biomarkers, advanced neuroimaging techniques to assess measures of cholinergic degeneration, and synchronous EEG and assessments of attention. One of the overarching innovations of study is combining all of these assessments into one integrated research plan

Further description from the registry

Aim 1 is a cross-sectional case control study in which cholinergic degeneration in 45 participants with DLB or PDD with CF will be compared to a group of 45 individuals with Lewy Body disease without CF and 30 healthy controls. The first 20 participants who are eligible for Aim 2 and consent will also participate in an 8-week pre-post interventional cohort study immediately following Aim 1 procedures. For Aim 3, Aim 1 participants will complete annual follow-up evaluations for 2 years to understand factors influencing the change in cognitive fluctuations over time.

Conditions reported: Dementia With Lewy Bodies; Parkinson Disease Dementia; Healthy Controls

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

Study type
Interventional
Interventions
Syn-One skin biopsy; Multi modal MRI; Assessment of dynamic EEG features over 48-hour periods across all study aims; Plasma biomarkers; Galantamine HBr extended-release 8mg capsules (8mg ER).
Phases
PHASE4
Sponsor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Start date reported by registry
2025-12-08 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-03-06 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-03

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-13 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Kara McHaney · (804) 828-4788 · Kara.McHaney@vcuhealth.org

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Recruiting

Kara McHaney · (804) 828-4788 · Kara.McHaney@vcuhealth.org

Matthew Barrett, MD

Facility not reported

United States

Status not reported

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.