NCT06591091

Clemastine for Improving White Matter and Boosting Antidepressant Response in Late-life Depression

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to find out if the antihistamine, clemastine, can make the white matter in the brain better in older adults with depression. The study will also determine whether this improvement can make antidepressant treatment work better, reduce depressive symptoms, and improve memory and thinking.

Detailed description

Geriatric depression, also known as late-life depression, is a type of major depression that affects people who are 60 years old or older. It can be difficult to treat and often comes back after treatment. It can also lead to problems with memory and thinking. Some studies have found that problems with the white matter in the brain can make it harder to treat depression in older adults. White matter helps with communication in the brain. A new study suggests that a medicine called clemastine might be able to improve the white matter in the brain. Clemastine is usually used as an antihistamine, but it might also help the brain repair itself. The goal of this study is to find out if clemastine can make the white matter in the brain better in older adults with depression. The study will also determine whether this improvement can make antidepressant treatment work better, reduce depressive symptoms, and improve memory and thinking. The study will involve two groups of participants. One group will receive the standard antidepressant treatment along with a placebo, while the other group will receive the standard antidepressant treatment along with clemastine. The investigators will compare the effects of these two treatments over a period of 12 weeks. The investigators will measure the improvement in white matter using special brain imaging techniques. The investigators will also assess the participants' mood, memory, and thinking abilities, and keep track of any side effects or problems caused by the treatments. Overall, this study has the potential to contribute valuable insights into the treatment of geriatric depression, alleviate depressive symptoms, enhance cognitive function, and potentially open up new avenues for future research and therapeutic approaches.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Clemastine Fumarate	Listed in arm/group description
DRUG	Placebo	Listed in arm/group description

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-01
• Primary completion: 2026-03-01
• Completion: 2026-03-01
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2025-09-04

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study