Intranasal Insulin: A Novel Treatment for Gulf War Multisymptom Illness

NCT ID: NCT01802944

Last Updated: 2017-10-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

114 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-04-30

Study Completion Date

2017-12-31

Brief Summary

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Following their deployment to the 1991 Gulf War, many veterans (GWV) reported a constellation of unexplained health symptoms; common among them were attention and memory difficulties, fatigue, joint pain, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, and mood and sleep problems. Despite the passage of time, the symptom complex persists for many veterans. Indeed, it is estimated that at least 25 percent of GWV (nearly 170,000 veterans) have a persistent form of chronic multisymptom illness (CMI). GW deployed veterans are also developing significantly more chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and coronary heart disease than their non-deployed veteran peers putting these individuals at risk for accelerated aging-related diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown a slowing of response speed that affects mental flexibility across multiple cognitive domains (memory, attention, visuospatial functions) especially on tests that were timed and computerized and where small differences in cognitive reaction times could be measured. Recent studies also have suggested that the response inhibition deficits shown in GWV may reflect executive system dysfunction as reflected by slower motor responses across multiple cognitive domains.

To date, there are no treatments that have been shown to improve the health or cognitive difficulties of GW veterans; thus there is an urgent need to establish effective, safe, and tolerable treatments for GW CMI. Previous studies in other cognitive disorders have found that intranasal insulin improves memory, attention, and mood, reduces neuroinflammation, and modulates cortisol levels; it has also been identified as a treatment that has the capacity to alter many of the leading problems of GW CMI.

During this study there are 2 treatment groups and a placebo group that will last for 8 weeks. The treatment groups will self-administer their designated dosage of insulin through a nasal pump twice a day, while the placebo group will administer saline through a nasal pump twice a day. These doses have been shown to be effective and safe. The primary outcome measure will assess improvements in verbal delayed memory using a specific list learning task and on a measure of selective attention. The study will assess improvements in overall physical health and mood by asking the participants to complete self report questionnaires. Neuroendocrine measures will also be obtained in order to evaluate changes in glucose, insulin, and cortisol levels and examine their impact on GW CMI.

Intranasal insulin has shown great promise in improving memory, attention, and mood in both older adults with cognitive impairment as well as normal subjects. Thus, this proposal could prove intranasal insulin to be an effective, safe, and affordable therapy for these ailing veterans.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Gulf War Veterans

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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10 IU BID

10 IU BID Intranasal Insulin

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intranasal Insulin

Intervention Type DRUG

20 IU BID

20 IU BID Intranasal Insulin

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intranasal Insulin

Intervention Type DRUG

PLACEBOS

Saline nasal solution used as placebo

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Placebos

Intervention Type DRUG

Interventions

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Intranasal Insulin

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebos

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Subject is a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War.
* Veteran meets criteria for chronic multisymptom illness based Kansas Gulf War Study (Steele, 2000) criteria and must meet criteria in the cognitive symptom domain.

Exclusion Criteria

* Veteran lacks the capacity to provide consent.
* Veteran has diabetes, a major medical or neurological disorder or moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.
* Veteran has a history of hypoglycemia.
* Veteran is taking oral or nasal corticosteroids, insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.
* Veteran has an irregular nasal cavity (i.e. nasal polyps etc.) or is using nasal sprays on a regular basis.
* Veteran has a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or type I bipolar disorder.
* Veteran is at high risk from a mental perspective as evidence by having been psychiatrically hospitalized or attempted suicide within the previous 2 years or has current active suicidal ideation.
* Veteran is pregnant or breastfeeding or plans to become pregnant within the year.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

89 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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VA Boston Healthcare System

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Boston University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Inc

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Julia Golier, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Chief of Psychiatry Bronx VA Medical Center

Locations

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VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Allison J Markiewicz, MSW

Role: CONTACT

(718) 584-9000 ext. 6567

Facility Contacts

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Maxine Krengel, PhD

Role: primary

617-232-9500

Julia A Golier, MD

Role: primary

718-584-9000 ext. 5196

Other Identifiers

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GW110054

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id