NCT01937013

Impact of Emotional Mimicry and Oxytocin on Frontotemporal Dementia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 52 (actual)
• Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 30 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will evaluate the effects on emotions and neural activity of a one time dose of intranasal oxytocin vs. placebo in patients with FTD and healthy controls.

Detailed description

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Pick's disease cause changes in personality, behaviour, and emotional responses. The usual treatments for Frontotemporal dementia focus on reducing agitation and aggressive behaviours. However, these drugs do not help all patients who experience blunting of emotion and loss of empathy. This study will evaluate the effects on emotions and neural activity of a one time dose of intranasal oxytocin vs. placebo in patients with FTD and healthy controls.

Conditions

• Frontotemporal Dementia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Intranasal oxytocin	Oxytocin can be given intravenously (with a needle) or intranasally (a spray into the nose). The intravenous form of drug is approved by Health Canada for use in pregnancy. The intranasal formulation is not currently approved for use by Health Canada, but is used in Europe to induce labour in pregnant women or aid lactation (breastfeeding). Participants will be randomized to receive 72 IU intranasal oxytocin on either study visit 2 or 3.
DRUG	Saline Nasal Mist	Participants will be randomized to receive placebo on either study visit 2 or 3.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-09-12
• Primary completion: 2017-12-21
• Completion: 2017-12-21
• First posted: 2013-09-09
• Last updated: 2018-08-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada