Imaging inflammation in Parkinson's disease using PET scans
Official title: Molecular Imaging of LPS-induced Microglial Activation in Parkinson's Disease (PD). A TSPO PET-MR Imaging Study
Run by University of Exeter · NCT05205291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing how inflammation affects Parkinson's disease by using special scans and blood tests to see what happens when participants are given a mild inflammatory substance.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Exeter Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Exeter) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 28, 2022 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 7, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT05205291 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are cognitively healthy individuals aged 50-85 with no significant neurological or psychiatric disorders.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders or significant neurological conditions may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to understand the role of inflammation in Parkinson's disease by conducting two Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans with the tracer [11C]PBR28. Participants will receive a mild inflammatory stimulus through the administration of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and will undergo blood tests to measure inflammation markers. The study will take place over two visits, one at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Exeter and the other at the Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre. The goal is to elucidate the mechanisms of inflammation in Parkinson's disease and its potential impact on disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance understanding of inflammation's role in Parkinson's disease, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases has been explored, this specific approach using LPS and PET imaging is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria (all): * 50-85 years of age, male or female * Able to give informed consent * Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing * No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders * BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression * No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders * Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases * Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening) * Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans. * Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake). * Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit. Inclusion Criteria (Parkinson's disease patients): * 50-85 years of age, male or female * Able to give informed consent * Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing * No presence or history of other significant neurological or psychiatric disorders * Diagnosis of PD according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (Postuma et al., Mov Disord 2015) * Drug-naïve participants with PD must have a diagnosis of PD but must be therapy-free at the time of enrolment * For participants with PD-MCI: diagnosis of MCI according the diagnostic criteria for MCI-PD (Level I; Litvan et al., Mov Disord 2012) and/or MoCA \< 23 * For participants with PD taking dopaminergic therapy: must be in stable therapy (i.e. not have changed therapy in the last 60 days) * Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans. * Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake). * Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit. For participants with iRBD: Inclusion criteria: * 40-85 years of age, male or female * Able to give informed consent * Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing * No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders * BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression * No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders * Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases * Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening) * Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence). * Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans. * Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan. * Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake). * Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit. Exclusion Criteria (all): * Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures * Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence * BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression * Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing * Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician * Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids * Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs. * Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan. * Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET * Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS * Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis * History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes * History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer. * Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable * Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc. * Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test) * Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.) * Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs Exclusion Criteria (Parkinson's disease patients): * Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures * Current or recent history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence * BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression * Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood or urine testing * Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician * Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids. * Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs. * Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan. * Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET * Presence of other neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS * History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers) * Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes * History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer. * Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable * Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc. * Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test) * Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.) * Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs Exclusion criteria (for participants with iRBD): * Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures * Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence * BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression * Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing * Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician * Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids * Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs. * Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan. * Use of any of the following drugs that might interfere with dopamine transporter SPECT imaging: Ephedrine, ketamine, isoflurane, cocaine, methylphenidate, amphetamine of any amphetamine derivatives, mazindol, modafinil, benztropine, fentanyl, derivatives, buproprion, phentermine neuroleptics, metoclopramide, alpha methyldopa, , reserpine, . * Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET * Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS * Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, or viral hepatitis * History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes * History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer. * Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable * Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc. * Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test) * Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.) * Evidence of presynaptic dopaminergic denervation on \[123I\]FP-CIT SPECT * Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
Where it's running
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University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Marios Politis, MD MSc PhD — University of Exeter
- Study coordinator: Edoardo R. de Natale, MD MSc Ph.D
- Email: e.de-natale@exeter.ac.uk
- Phone: 07503741242
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.