NCT05521919Completed
Acute Plasma Abeta Responses to Stress
Effects of Acute Stress Exposure on Plasma Beta-amyloid Levels
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 10 Dec 2025
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Research has shown that activation of the sympathetic nervous system for extended periods or during certain times in life can increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Some research in animal models show that acute activation of the sympathetic nervous system through stress exposure can increase certain Alzheimer's disease-related biomarkers, such as amyloid-beta, within hours of exposure. However, how acute sympathetic nervous system activation via stress exposure affects amyloid-beta levels in humans has yet to be examined. In this study, the investigators will examine whether brief increases in sympathetic activation result in immediate changes in plasma amyloid-beta levels in the five hours after exposure.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 38 (actual)
- First submitted
- 26 Aug 2022
- Start date
- 5 Dec 2023
- Primary completion date
- 10 Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southern California
- NCT number
- NCT05521919
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 38
- From 5 Dec 2023 to the primary completion date, 10 Dec 2024
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other
- \- Unwilling to be filmed during the stress task OR unwilling to sign the waiver allowing their filmed responses to be used in scientific presentations
Who the study is looking for
- Healthy adult weighing at least 110 pounds
- No chronic conditions or illness
- Taking no medications or drugs that might alter the stress response (e.g., corticosteroids, beta-blockers, and others)
- Not using any hormone-containing medication (e.g., hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement, etc.)
- No contraindications for cold pressor test exposure (high blood pressure, heart disease, dysrhythmia, peripheral vascular disease, any other cardiovascular disorder, diabetes, vasculitis, lupus, tingling or numbness in the hands and/or feet, cryoglobulinemia, and Reynaud's phenomenon)
- No history of fainting during blood draws
- No phobia of having their blood drawn
- No general history of fainting or seizures
- Not currently diagnosed with a mood disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder)
- Not pregnant in the past 12 months
- Not lactating in the past 12 months
- Not trying to become pregnant if premenopausal
- Experienced natural menopause if postmenopausal
- Be non-smokers
- Be fluent in English
Age in the registry: 18 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Los Angeles | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.