This is a revision of NIH grant application 1 R01 AG025515-01, GHRH: Cognition in Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment. The societal burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other primary neurodegenerative dementias is monumental, with total annual costs estimated at $100 billion (1996 dollars) per year in the United States. The need to identify and treat individuals as early as possible in the Alzheimer's disease process is clear, and justifies intensification of studies of individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) who are at risk for progression to dementia within a few years. The FDA's recent hearings on the suitability of MCI as an indication for pharmacotherapy are major indicators of its importance as a public health concern. There is considerable and compelling evidence in the literature that the actions of the somatotrophic (growth hormone releasing hormone/ growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I) hormonal axis have significant and predictable beneficial impact on cognitive function. Supplementation of the somatotrophic axis may likely be of direct benefit to individuals such as those with MCI, who are experiencing a mild but significant cognitive impairment and who may be at particular risk for continued cognitive decline and progression into AD. We have recently shown that a five-month growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) treatment improves cognitive function in healthy older men and women and preliminary evidence supports the expectation of a similar effect in individuals with MCI. We believe it important to replicate and significantly extend our initial GHRH finding in healthy older adults, using a much more comprehensive cognitive assessment battery, which includes measures of memory not included in our preliminary study. We also believe it crucial to extend our examination of the cognitive function enhancing effects of GHRH to a sample of older adults with MCI. Therefore we propose to conduct a prospective, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study of the effects of GHRH on the cognitive function of 80 healthy normal older men and women and of 80 older men and women diagnosed with MCI.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG025515-02
Application #
7125967
Study Section
Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging Study Section (APDA)
Program Officer
Ryan, Laurie M
Project Start
2005-09-30
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2006-08-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$507,325
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Winston, Charisse N; Goetzl, Edward J; Baker, Laura D et al. (2018) Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Modulation of Neuronal Exosome Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 66:971-981
Friedman, Seth D; Baker, Laura D; Borson, Soo et al. (2013) Growth hormone-releasing hormone effects on brain ?-aminobutyric acid levels in mild cognitive impairment and healthy aging. JAMA Neurol 70:883-90
Parthasarathy, Sairam; Vitiello, Michael V (2012) 2011 NIH Sleep Disorders Research Plan: a rising tide that lifts all boats. J Clin Sleep Med 8:7-8
Baker, Laura D; Barsness, Suzanne M; Borson, Soo et al. (2012) Effects of growth hormone–releasing hormone on cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults: results of a controlled trial. Arch Neurol 69:1420-9
Ficca, Gianluca; Axelsson, John; Mollicone, Daniel J et al. (2010) Naps, cognition and performance. Sleep Med Rev 14:249-58
Vitiello, Michael V; Rybarczyk, Bruce; Von Korff, Michael et al. (2009) Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia improves sleep and decreases pain in older adults with co-morbid insomnia and osteoarthritis. J Clin Sleep Med 5:355-62
McCurry, Susan M; Logsdon, Rebecca G; Teri, Linda et al. (2007) Sleep disturbances in caregivers of persons with dementia: contributing factors and treatment implications. Sleep Med Rev 11:143-53