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Vortioxetine for the Treatment of Mood and Cognitive Symptoms in Frontotemporal Dementia

Functional Neuroimaging to Examine Affective Symptoms and Cognition in Frontotemporal Dementia

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06604520
Enrollment
50
Registered
2024-09-19
Start date
2025-03-20
Completion date
2029-09-01
Last updated
2026-03-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Frontotemporal Degeneration, Fronto-temporal Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Behavioral Variant, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Fronto-temporal Lobar Dementia

Keywords

FTD, Frontotemporal Dementia, Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Antidepressant

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if vortioxetine improves mood symptoms and cognition in patients with early-stage behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD). The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Do individuals with mood symptoms and bvFTD have brain changes and cognitive profiles that differ compared to individuals without bvFTD? 2. Do mood symptoms and cognition improve following treatment with vortioxetine? Researchers will also determine whether there are changes in the brain associated with vortioxetine treatment. Participants will: * Undergo a screening visit that involves clinical assessments and laboratory tests * Undergo an initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) scan before starting treatment with vortioxetine * Undergo memory and problem-solving tests before starting treatment with vortioxetine * Undergo approximately 12 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine, during which time there will be regular contact and assessments with the study psychiatrist * Undergo a repeat PET scan and repeat memory and problem-solving tests after 12 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine

Interventions

DRUGVortioxetine

Individuals with bvFTD and mood symptoms will receive approximately 12 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine

Sponsors

Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
CollaboratorNIH
Lundbeck LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

FTD Patients Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or Female 2. Age 45 and above 3. Diagnosis of possible or probable bvFTD based on international consensus criteria for behavioral variant FTD (FTDC) 4. The presence of at least one of the following affective symptoms on the 12-item Neuropsychiatric Inventory: depression, anxiety, irritability, or agitation 5. A global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) Behavior and Language Domains global score (CDR® plus NACC FTLD) less than or equal to one 6. Patients must be medically stable 7. Vortioxetine treatment is clinically indicated 8. Competent to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1. No history of drug or alcohol dependence within six months prior to study entry 2. Negative toxicology screening for drugs of abuse 3. Subject must not be pregnant or nursing 4. No contraindications to Vortioxetine treatment 5. No contraindications for Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanning (e.g. metal implanted in the body) Healthy Controls Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or Female 2. Age 45 and above 3. Subjects must be medically stable 4. Free of psychotropic medications 5. Competent to provide informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in global cerebral glucose metabolism on [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET)Baseline, 12 weeksCerebral glucose uptake measured through 18F FDG positron emission tomography

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in depressive symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).Baseline, 12 weeksThe HDRS is a widely used clinician-administered depression assessment tool designed to measure the severity of depression in individuals. It consists of 17 items rated on a 3 or 5 point scale with total scores ranging from 0 to 52. A higher score indicates more severe symptoms of depression.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTChristopher B Morrow, MD
cmorrow3@jhmi.edu410-502-6509
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristopher Morrow, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 10, 2026