NCT05748990Active, not recruiting
Does Abnormal Insulin Action in the Brain Underlie Cognitive and Metabolic Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 25 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Cognitive impairment (such as challenges in thinking and memory) is a core aspect of schizophrenia (SCZ), contributing to disability and poor functional outcomes. Additionally, almost half of the patients with SCZ are obese, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 3-6 times higher, and life expectancy is lower by 15-20 years compared to the general population. This is relevant as metabolic syndrome and diabetes are both associated with worse cognition among SCZ patients. Recent work studying the relationships between metabolic health and cognition has encouraged a new way of thinking about SCZ as both a metabolic and cognitive disorder. Brain insulin is involved in several processes relevant to SCZ, and abnormal brain insulin action may help explain both cognitive and metabolic abnormalities in patients with SCZ, but this has not been examined previously. Glucose uptake in several brain regions relevant to SCZ has been shown to be partially dependent on insulin. Therefore, in this study, the researchers will measure glucose uptake in the brain using an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (\[18F\]-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scan after an intranasal insulin stimulus, and will compare this measure between patients with SCZ and healthy controls.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 20 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 18 Feb 2023
- Start date
- 1 Apr 2023
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Diseases
- Schizophrenia
- NCT number
- NCT05748990
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 20
- From 1 Apr 2023 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2026
- 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.
Prior treatment
- Received maximum allowed radiation in the past 12 months (20 mSv)
- current intake of any medication that may interfere with participation in the study or may confound the results of PET imaging (e.g. anti-diabetic medication).
Other illness
- liver or kidney disease
- metallic cardiac valves
- magnetic material such as surgical clips, implanted electronic infusion pumps or any other conditions that would preclude the MRI scan
- history of head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness \> 30 minutes that required medical attention;
- unstable physical illness
- significant neurological disorder including a seizure disorder;
- Disorders of coagulation, blood or ongoing use of anticoagulant medication
- Control group: Exclusionary criteria are as listed above for participants, in addition to:
- 1\) First degree family member with primary psychotic disorder.
Lab values
- prediabetes, diabetes, or evidence of impaired glucose tolerance on screening OGTT
Other
- moderate or severe substance use according to MINI (per PI discretion in the case of moderate alcohol or cannabis use)
- acute suicidal risk
- use of weight, lipid, antidiabetic or blood pressure reducing agents
- pregnancy
- nursing
- pacemakers
- clinically significant claustrophobia (determined from MRI screening form; significance evaluated as per QI's discretion).
- size of head, neck, precluding to fit in the MRI or PET scanners
- weight over 350lbs (limit for MRI scanner bed)
- Completed more than 6 PET scans/ lifetime, that, together with the PET scanning procedures under this protocol will bring the total number of PET scans to more than the allowed/lifetime (8 PET scans per lifetime). These limits are set by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Brain Health Imaging Centre Guideline.
- clinically relevant abnormality observed in medical history,
Who the study is looking for
- Experimental group (participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder):
- 17-45 years
- both sexes;
- Patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum illness: Primary DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, brief psychotic disorder, psychotic disorder NOS, major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar II disorder, OR substance-induced psychosis, and antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other specified schizophrenia spectrum, other psychotic disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar II. (Diagnosis willbe confirmed via CAMH chart review).
- BMI under or equal to 27
- Control group (healthy controls):
- 17-45 years of age
- sex-,
- hand dominance -and
- body mass index (BMI)-matched
- Absence of DSM-5 diagnosis other than a specific phobia according to MINI
Age in the registry: 17 years to 45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.