CompletedPhase 1

Aging and Reward System Response to Inflammation and Anxiety Study

United States40 participantsStarted 2023-03-29

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this study is to use an experimental inflammatory challenge to examine whether older adults with symptoms of anxiety experience loss of pleasure or loss of motivation when they are exposed to inflammation. Loss of pleasure or loss of motivation will be evaluated using self-report questionnaires, computer tasks, and during a brain scan.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants will be required to be in good general health (as evaluated during the phone and in-person baseline session) * Participants will be aged 60 to 80 years. * 3/4 the participants (n=30) will be those with clinically significant anxiety as defined by a score of 5 or greater on the GAD-7; * 1/4 the participants (n=10) will be those with low anxiety as defined by a GAD-7 score of \<5. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of chronic mental or physical illness (except for anxiety) * History of allergies, autoimmune, liver, or other severe chronic diseases * Current and regular use of prescription medications such as steroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, immune modifying drugs, opioid analgesics, statins, antihypertensive drugs, anti-arrhythmic drugs, and antidepressant medications (none in the last 6 months) * Nightshift work or time zone shifts (\> 3hrs) within the previous 6 weeks * Previous history of fainting during blood draws. * Claustrophobia * Metal in the body * Presence of co-morbid medical conditions not limited to but including cardiovascular (e.g., history of acute coronary event, stroke) and neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease), as well as pain disorders; * Presence of comorbid inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders; * Presence of an uncontrolled medical condition that is deemed by the investigators to interfere with the proposed study procedures, or to put the stud…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Neural Indices of Reward Motivation - Anticipatory Reward Response

Timeframe: approximately 2 hours post-injection for 7 minutes

Neural Indices of Reward Motivation - Effort-Based Decision Making

Timeframe: approximately 2 hours post-injection for 14 minutes

Neural Indices of Monetary Reward Sensitivity during Effort-Based Decision Making

Timeframe: approximately 2 hours post-injection for 14 minutes

Neural Indices of Reward Sensitivity for Non-Monetary Reward

Timeframe: approximately 2 hours post-injection for 10 minutes

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05363527

SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-08

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anhedonia trials