The purpose of this grant is to evaluate the efficacy of sodium butyrate as a novel treatment for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia (SZ). The aims will be to evaluate its effects on improving symptoms and functioning in SZ, and the relationship of the drug's clinical effects to epigenetic and inflammation related biochemical changes.
The persistent cognitive deficits which can be appreciated across the course of SZ, from prodromal to chronic SZ, may be the most important underlying dysfunction in preventing functional, occupational, and social recovery in SZ compared to other symptom domains. Sodium butyrate is a short chain fatty acid and binds to the zinc site of histone deacetylases (HDAC). The inhibition of HDAC results in histone hyperacetylation. This study aims to evaluate its effects on improving symptoms and functioning in SZ, and the relationship of the drug's clinical effects to epigenetic and inflammation related biochemical changes. The proposed study will be a double blind study of the effects of sodium butyrate on cognitive function and symptoms in chronic SZ patients showing continued cognitive deficits.The primary specific aims of the proposal will be to test the the MATRICS (MCCB) battery,delayed recall performance, and performance on real world functional tasks as assessed by the USCD Performance- Based Skills Assessment Battery (UPSA). In addition, we will also investigate whether sodium butyrate may improve other aspects of cognition. We will also explore whether improvement in cognition is related to change in HDAC activity in peripheral blood cells and changes in inflammatory makers in the blood, and assess whether there is any improvement in psychopathology as measured by PANSS scale.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Sodium butyrate is being supplied by T.E. Neesby (Brain White, T.E. Neesby, Inc.) in 730 mg capsules. The company asserts that their material is 98% pure and food grade. We will have identical placebo capsules. Subjects will receive 3 capsules twice daily (morning and late afternoon or evening) for a total of 4380 mg/day.
Placebo Oral Capsule is also being supplied by T.E. Neesby (Brain White, T.E. Neesby, Inc.) and there is no difference from appearance, smell and taste. It contains 1.5 mg sodium butyrate per capsule. Subjects will receive 3 capsules twice daily (morning and late afternoon or evening) for a total of 9 mg/day.
Shanghai Mental Health Center
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
Change from baseline in MATRICS Battery Score
MATRICS Cognitive Battery
Time frame: Basline, week 6, up to 12 weeks
Change from baseline in Logical Memory Test score
Logical Memory Test for longer term memory
Time frame: Basline, up to 12 weeks
Change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) symptom rating scale
Time frame: Basline, week 6, up to 12 weeks
Change from baseline in Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) score
Alternate working memory test
Time frame: Basline, week 6, up to 12 weeks
Change from baseline in UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA) total score
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Performance-Based Skills Assessment Battery
Time frame: Baseline, up to 12 weeks
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