NCT07095205

PET Imaging Using the Tracer [18F]VAT to Assess the Antidepressant Effect of Nicotine.

Central Cholinergic Dysfunction in Depression: PET Imaging of a Novel Treatment Target With [18F]VAT to Assess the Antidepressant Effect of Nicotine

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 14 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Stony Brook University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

In the brain, certain nerve cells communicate using a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is thought to be important for several functions including mood, memory and wakefulness. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of these nerve cells in depression. Also, we would like to understand how nicotine, the study drug, works in depression and how it affects these nerve cells. To do this, brain imaging will be used before and after this treatment.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Nicotine transdermal patch	The participants with MDD will receive Nicorette NicoDerm CQ nicotine transdermal patches for 8 days (7 mg/day for days 1-2, 14 mg/day for days 3-4, and 21 mg/day for days 5-8).
DRUG	PET Scan with [18F] VAT	All participants will undergo a PET scan at Baseline using tracer \[18F\] VAT. Participants with MDD will undergo a second post-treatment PET scan using tracer \[18F\] VAT.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-03
• Primary completion: 2029-09-30
• Completion: 2029-09-30
• First posted: 2025-07-31
• Last updated: 2025-07-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study