Trial Outcomes & Findings for Curcumin as a Novel Treatment to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia (NCT NCT02104752)

NCT ID: NCT02104752

Last Updated: 2019-05-15

Results Overview

This battery was developed as part of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) sponsored Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Initiative to assess cognition in clinical trials of cognition enhancing drugs. The MCCB comprises 10 tests that assess 7 cognitive domains (speed of processing, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, reasoning and problem solving, attention/vigilance, and social cognition). The MCCB takes approximately 65 minutes to administer and provides age and gender-corrected normed T-scores, including a global composite score and cognitive domain scores. The range of T-scores is between 0 to 100 with a mean of 50. Higher scores indicate better overall cognitive functioning.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Target enrollment

39 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

Results posted on

2019-05-15

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Curcumin
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Overall Study
STARTED
18
21
Overall Study
COMPLETED
17
19
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
2

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Curcumin
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0
Overall Study
Weight gain; unrelated anxiety
0
2

Baseline Characteristics

Curcumin as a Novel Treatment to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Total
n=36 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
50.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.6 • n=5 Participants
50.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.6 • n=7 Participants
50.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.0 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
19 Participants
n=7 Participants
30 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
17 participants
n=5 Participants
19 participants
n=7 Participants
36 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

This battery was developed as part of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) sponsored Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Initiative to assess cognition in clinical trials of cognition enhancing drugs. The MCCB comprises 10 tests that assess 7 cognitive domains (speed of processing, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, reasoning and problem solving, attention/vigilance, and social cognition). The MCCB takes approximately 65 minutes to administer and provides age and gender-corrected normed T-scores, including a global composite score and cognitive domain scores. The range of T-scores is between 0 to 100 with a mean of 50. Higher scores indicate better overall cognitive functioning.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)
Baseline
36.6 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 15.1
32.9 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 10.3
Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)
Week 4
36.3 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 14.5
33.8 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 11.0
Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)
Week 8
35.8 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 14.5
33.9 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 9.7

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

A passive attention auditory oddball paradigm will be used to assess MMN. For MMN, difference waves generated by subtracting the standard from deviant event related potentials (ERP) will be analyzed. The specific electrodes used to examine each component will be chosen based on maximal activity seen by inspection of the topographical maps. More negative values indicate a larger (i.e., better) MMN response.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Electroencephalogram (EEG) Mismatch Negativity Paradigm (MMN)
Baseline
-2.2 microVolts
Standard Deviation 2.16
-1.84 microVolts
Standard Deviation 1.42
Electroencephalogram (EEG) Mismatch Negativity Paradigm (MMN)
Week 4
-2.15 microVolts
Standard Deviation 1.47
-1.99 microVolts
Standard Deviation 1.84
Electroencephalogram (EEG) Mismatch Negativity Paradigm (MMN)
Week 8
-2.15 microVolts
Standard Deviation 1.66
-1.68 microVolts
Standard Deviation 1.10

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

Population: Participant dropped at the 8 week follow-up

Serum will be collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. BDNF concentrations will be quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Baseline
11416 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 10067
14227 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 9371
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Week 4
15395 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 11065
13288 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 10565
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Week 8
14828 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 12876
10219 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 8571

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) will be the primary measure for assessing positive symptoms. We will be using the UCLA expanded 24-item version of the scale. The total score ranges from 24-168, with lower scores being better (i.e., less symptomatology).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
Baseline
36.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 7.7
38.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 9.5
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
Week 4
35.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 5.7
37.9 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 10.9
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
Week 8
36.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 8.8
37.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 10.7

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) will be used to assess negative symptoms. This scale is comprised of 9 items that rate motivation and pleasure symptoms and 4 items that rate expression symptoms. We are reporting the motivation subscale. The total score can range from 0-36 (summed over the 9 items), with lower scores being better (i.e., less symptomatology).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Curcumin
n=17 Participants
Curcumin capsules (Theracurmin formulation of curcumin nanoparticles). Subjects randomized to curcumin will receive 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses). Curcumin: 360 mg/day (divided into twice daily oral doses)
Sugar Pill
n=19 Participants
Matched placebo, 2 capsules twice daily. Placebo: Inactive, matched placebo ("Sugar Pill")
The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS)
Baseline
14.2 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 6.8
16.0 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 5.9
The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS)
Week 4
15.8 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 7.5
16.2 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 7.1
The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS)
Week 8
15.1 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 6.2
17.9 Score on a Scale
Standard Deviation 7.8

Adverse Events

Curcumin

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sugar Pill

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Jonathan K. Wynn, Ph.D.

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System/UCLA

Phone: (310) 478-3711

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place