Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of d-cycloserine (DCS) treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI). Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Illness experience numerous chronic health symptoms, including cognition and fatigue, which reduces their quality of life. Gulf War veterans are in urgent need of novel treatment plans to tackle elusive symptomatology of Gulf War Illness. By using the literature of previous studies, the investigators have chosen to investigate d-cycloserine as a possible candidate for treating GWI, specifically cognitive symptoms. DCS has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation, regulate glutamate levels, and improve synaptic functioning in key areas of the brain.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 43 Years and 85 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, male or female - Physical examination and laboratory findings within normal limits - Willingness and ability to participate in the informed consent process and comply with study protocols - Symptom criteria: Meets Gulf War Illness criteria with the cognitive symptom domain being present. Veteran does not have medical exclusions for Gulf War Illness

Exclusion Criteria

  • Veteran lacks the capacity to provide consent during the informed consent process - Veteran has the one of the following medical exclusion conditions and/or has been active or received treatment within the past 5 years: Cancer (except nonmelanoma skin cancer), diabetes (not well managed), seizure disorder, heart disease (except hypertension), liver disease, kidney disease, Lupus, multiple sclerosis, stroke, chronic infectious disease, immune disorder/immunosuppression - Veteran has a history of a major psychiatric or central nervous system disorder that can affect cognitive function (ie. epilepsy, brain tumor, Parkinson's Disease) - Veteran has been hospitalized in the past 5 years for depression, PTSD, alcohol or drug dependence - Veteran has current suicidal ideation or current alcohol or drug dependence - Pregnant women, lactating women, women who are breastfeeding, or women of childbearing potential who are not using medically accepted forms of contraception - Veteran is active duty personnel

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
D-cycloserine
To compare efficacy of the novel therapeutic approach of DCS in improving cognitive functioning in GW veterans with GWI. DCS = d-cycloserine Dosage: 100mg Dosage form: Pill, administered orally Frequency: Daily for four weeks
  • Drug: D-cycloserine
    Partial agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor
    Other names:
    • DCS
Placebo Comparator
Placebos
To provide a control group to compare efficacy of the novel therapeutic approach of DCS in improving cognitive functioning in GW veterans with GWI.
  • Drug: Placebos
    Sugar pill
    Other names:
    • Placebo control

Recruiting Locations

Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts 02215

More Details

Status
Unknown status
Sponsor
Boston University Charles River Campus

Study Contact

Allison Coyne, B.S.
617-358-3048
afcoyne@bu.edu

Detailed Description

Our study is a pilot study for the novel treatment of d-cycloserine to treat GWI. Our study will consist of two experimental groups of equal size (n=28): DCS treatment group and a placebo group. Participants will be randomized into either group; with a double blind study design. Participants will be instructed to self-administer their treatment pills once per day for 28 days. There will be a total of 6 study visits that will include medical and neuropsychological assessment. The first visit will be for establishing eligibility and baseline functioning. Three visits (visits 2-4) will occur during the medication trial (day 1, day 2 and two weeks into medication/placebo). Visit 5 will occur around the time medication/placebo is finished. Visit 6 (follow up) will occur one month after medication/placebo is complete.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.