TNF inhibitors in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TNF inhibitors in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease
IRAS ID
223104
Contact name
Bernadette McGuinness
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
TNF-α inhibitors (TNFi) are widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory arthritis. They are usually prescribed when traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate do not work. There is a compelling and strengthening evidence base relating to the use of TNFi in cognitive protection. Longitudinal prospective studies are lacking, however, and much of the evidence to date does not control for other factors which have an impact such as age, gender, severity of rheumatoid disease etc.
We wish to carry out a comprehensive longitudinal study of RA patients on TNFi who have mild cognitive impairment with a memory deficit (aMCI) and follow their cognition over 18 months. We will compare this group to a group of RA patients with aMCI who are on traditional DMARDs.
Participants will be recruited from rheumatology day centres in Belfast, Antrim and Southampton. Screening cognitive tests will be carried out at baseline and every 6 months until the study end. We will compare cognitive decline in both groups using statistical methods. If TNFi are found to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in participants with RA who have aMCI this will add to the evidence base and would give enough evidence for a definitive randomised controlled trial of TNFi in MCI or people at risk of dementia.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0161
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion