Effect of Low Dose Radiotherapy on Brain Amyloidosis in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Last updated: April 27, 2026
Sponsor: Valentina Garibotto
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

N/A

Condition

Amyloidosis

Treatment

Low dose radiotherapy

Clinical Study ID

NCT03352258
2017-01715
  • Ages 18-80
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease associated with dementia, with a constantly increasing prevalence associated with an aging population. Amyloid deposition is considered the first molecular event occurring in AD: as already showed in an animal model, a low-dose radiotherapy (RT) course is capable of reducing AD-associated amyloid-β plaques and improve cognitive function. This pilot study wishes to investigate in 10 patients with a diagnosis of prodromal or early probable AD and with evidence of amyloid pathology the effectiveness of a short course low dose RT radiotherapy to reduce amyloid deposits in the human brain using molecular imaging (18F-Florbetapir) to show the effectiveness of the treatment on the specific target.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ability to understand the clinical trial and give an informed consent

  • Clinical diagnosis of prodromal AD, or mild or moderate AD

  • Ability to undergo neurocognitive assessment at baseline visit, alone or accompaniedby a caregiver

  • Amyloid PET scan positivity

  • Ability to follow the 5-days RT regiment, alone or accompanied by a caregiver

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inclusion in another disease modifying clinical trial

  • Previous therapeutic brain irradiation

  • Evidence of vascular cognitive impairment on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (Fazekas score >1 and Wahlund score >=10/30)

  • Oncologic disease (excluding skin cancer) active or in remission from less than 5years

  • Evidence of substance abuse (alcohol and/or other drugs) with a dependence duringthe previous 12 months (DSM-IV criteria)

  • Presence of subdural hygroma's, subdural hematomas or hydrocephalus

  • Significant psychiatric comorbidity as assessed during the clinical evaluation bythe neurologist/geriatrician in charge

  • Active or recent (within 3 months) cerebral infection/haemorrhage

  • Immunocompromised status

  • Prior history of seizure

  • Dermatological skin disease of the scalp

  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding or who intend to become pregnant during thecourse of the study;

  • Lack of safe contraception, defined as: female participants of childbearingpotential, not using and not willing to continue using a medically reliable methodof contraception for the entire study duration, such as oral, injectable, orimplantable contraceptives, or intrauterine contraceptive devices, or who are notusing any other method considered sufficiently reliable by the investigator inindividual cases;

Study Design

Total Participants: 20
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Low dose radiotherapy
Phase:
Study Start date:
November 17, 2017
Estimated Completion Date:
January 21, 2026

Connect with a study center

  • Geneva University Hospital

    Geneva, 1211
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Geneva University Hospital

    Geneva 14, 1211
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

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