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Obeticholic Acid for the Amelioration of Cognitive Symptoms

PI: Prof Alison Yarnall

Funder: Intercept Pharmaceuticals

Project members: Kathryn Walker

Silhouette of a human head in profile with a stylized brain, featuring digital red and white pixelated patterns representing brain activity, on a black background.

Background

The development of memory and thinking problems in people with Parkinson’s is common and has a profound effect on patients and carers. At present, there are little in the way of treatment options and no treatment that alters the progression of cognitive decline.

Methods

A circular infographic showing 10 visits to a healthcare facility over 6 months, with icons of a hospital and a phone. 
Taking part in this study involves attending 10 trial visits over 6 months. Some of these visits will be at hospital appointments (at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle) and some will be over the phone.
Diagram showing a person with pills and a graph, with arrows pointing to a human head with puzzle pieces representing the mind and a person with a battery indicating energy or fatigue. 
 Researchers at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals and Newcastle University are running a clinical trial to see whether a potential treatment used in other conditions improves cognitive and fatigue symptoms and whether it is safe and well tolerated in people with Parkinson’s.
Back to MOTIV-PD
Diagram contrasting two groups of people, one with a pill icon on the front, labeled 'Pill group,' and the other with a capsule icon, labeled 'Capsule group,' indicating different medication delivery methods. 
Out of the 25 people we plan to take part in this trial, around 10 patients will receive a placebo “dummy” drug and around 15 patients will receive Obeticholic Acid. This is decided randomly, by a computer.

Outcomes

Illustration showing a small group of people with a checkmark, and an arrow pointing to a larger group of people, representing a concept of expanding or increasing a population. 
If the results from this small trial show that the treatment might be effective, it could lead to a larger clinical trial. If this study demonstrates some improvements in measurements, it will be a very exciting field of research where little treatment currently exists.