RECRUITING

Natural History Study of Synucleinopathies

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

Synucleinopathies are a group of rare diseases associated with worsening neurological deficits and the abnormal accumulation of the protein α-synuclein in the nervous system. Onset is usually in late adulthood at age 50 or older. Usually, synucleinopathies present clinically with slowness of movement, coordination difficulties or mild cognitive impairment. Development of these features indicates that abnormal alpha-synuclein deposits have destroyed key areas of the brain involved in the control of movement or cognition. Patients with synucleinopathies and signs of CNS-deficits are frequently diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, accumulation of alpha-synuclein and death of nerve cells can also begin outside the brain in the autonomic nerves. In such cases, syncucleinopathies present first with symptoms of autonomic impairment (unexplained constipation, urinary difficulties, and sexual dysfunction). In rare cases, hypotension on standing (a disorder known as orthostatic hypotension) may be the only clinical finding. This "pre-motor" autonomic stage suggests that the disease process may not yet have spread to the brain. After a variable period of time, but usually within 5-years, most patients with abnormally low blood pressure on standing develop cognitive or motor abnormalities. This stepwise evolution indicates that the disease spreads from the body to the brain. Another indication of this spread is that acting out dreams (i.e., REM sleep behavior disorder, RBD) a problem that occurs when the lower part of the brain is affected, may also be the first noticeable sign of Parkinson disease. The purpose of this study is to document the clinical features and biological markers of patients with synucleinopathies and better understand how these disorders evolve over time. The study will involve following patients diagnosed with a synucleinopathy (PD/DLB and MSA) and those believed to be in the "pre-motor" stage (with isolated autonomic impairment and/or RBD). Through a careful series of follow-up visits to participating Centers, we will focus on finding biological clues that predict which patients will develop motor/cognitive problems and which ones have the resilience to keep the disease at bay preventing spread to the brain. We will also define the natural history of MSA - the most aggressive of the synucleinopathies.

Official Title

Natural History Study of Synucleinopathies

Quick Facts

Study Start:2011-06
Study Completion:2026-12-30
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT01799915

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. 1. Both male and female patients will be included
  2. 2. Aged 18 or over
  3. 3. Referred to any of the participating consortium sites with orthostatic intolerance, defined as symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness in the standing position that disappear when supine.
  1. 1. Diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association criteria
  2. 2. Congestive heart failure
  3. 3. Lupus or other collagen vascular disease
  4. 4. Systemic illness thought to be responsible for the orthostatic intolerance
  5. 5. Drug-induced orthostatic hypotension (i.e., the use of alpha-blockers, diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants or others thought by the investigator to play an important role in the patient's orthostatic hypotension)
  6. 6. Isolated vasovagal syncope
  7. 7. Inability to comply with the protocol, e.g. uncooperative attitude, inability to return for follow-up visits, and unlikelihood of completing the study.

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Horacio Kaufmann, MD
CONTACT
212-263-7225
horacio.kaufmann@nyulangone.org

Principal Investigator

Horacio C Kaufmann, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
NYU MEDICAL CENTER

Study Locations (Sites)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts
United States
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
United States
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
United States
NYU Medical Center
New York, New York, 10016
United States
Vanderbilt Univeristy
Nashville, Tennessee
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

  • Horacio C Kaufmann, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, NYU MEDICAL CENTER

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2011-06
Study Completion Date2026-12-30

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2011-06
Study Completion Date2026-12-30

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Patients With Synucleinopathies
  • Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension
  • Pure Autonomic Failure
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
  • Parkinson Disease
  • Dementia With Lewy Bodies
  • Multiple System Atrophy
  • Shy-Drager Disease