Trial of Propranolol in Older Adults With Primary Progressive Aphasia
University of Missouri-Columbia
Summary
The purpose of this study is to find out how the language of people with Primary Progressive Aphasia is affected by Propranolol. Propranolol is not FDA approved for the treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia. Propranolol is FDA approved for the treatment of heart conditions such as blood pressure. This research is being done because there are currently no drug treatment options for language impairments and anxiety often experienced by people with Primary Progressive Aphasia.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 50+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 1\. Age: 50 and older * 2\. Primary Progressive Aphasia diagnosis * 3\. Native English speaker Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Unable to provide consent * 2\. Taking alpha 2 agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) * 3\. Other major psychological or neurological diagnosis * 4\. Major head trauma that contributed to their condition * 5\. Allergic reaction to adhesives * 6\. Uncorrected vision/hearing impairments * 7\. Diabetes * 8\. Reactive airway disease * 9\. Untreated hypothyroidism * 10\. Bradyarrhythmia * 11\. Unexplained syncope * 12\. Pregnancy (assessed verbally on the da…
Interventions
- DrugPropranolol
Propranolol will be given on a titration schedule in which participants will begin with small doses of the drug and increase to a larger dosage over the course of three weeks. Propranolol will be taken for a total of 9 weeks.
- DeviceMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) will be performed at 3 Tesla and 7 Tesla, for both propranolol and placebo arms.
- DrugPlacebo
Placebo will be given on the same schedule as the propranolol regime.
Location
- University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, Missouri