NCT05899764 · Phase 1 · NOT YET RECRUITING
Epileptic Hippocampus in Alzheimer's Disease
This Phase 1 trial is testing brivaracetam, an anti-seizure medication, in people with MCI or Alzheimer's disease who show abnormal electrical activity in the hippocampus — the brain's memory center. Researchers want to know whether the drug can quiet that activity and whether doing so improves cognition. Phase 1 means they are primarily checking safety and early signals, not yet proving the treatment works.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Meet research criteria for mild cognitive impairment (Albert et al. 2011) or Alzheimer's disease (McKhann et al. 2011) with high biomarker probability of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology * Ages 45 to 70 * Epileptic activity and/or pHFOs in temporal or fronto-temporal electrodes * Willing and able informant who has at least weekly contact with subject * Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 or greater and/or Clinical Dementia Rating less than 2. These two examinations will be obtained from their participation in UCLA IRB#21-001603 or will be collected if subjects are referred by a clinician. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Risk factors for epileptic activity besides neurodegenerative disease 2. Concurrent use of antiseizure medications 3. Severe periventricular white matter disease 4. Clinically significant lacunar infarcts 5. Anticoagulant use 6. Significant systemic medical illness: * History of Korsakoff's syndrome * Alcohol or substance abuse preceding dementia \& still present within 5 years of onset * Untreated vitamin B12 or folate deficiency * History of head trauma with persistent deficits * Untreated syphilis * History of multiple sclerosis or another neuro-inflammatory disorder * History of vascular or multi-infarct dementia * Diagnosis of Huntington's disease * History of normal pressure hydrocephalus * History of CNS lesions deemed to be clinically significant * Unresolved or present subdural hematoma * History of intracerebral hemorrhage * Systematic liver disease * Renal insufficiency requiring dialysis * Encephalitis or meningitis * Severe white matter disease as defined by a score of 3 on the age-related white matter changes scale * Lacunar infarcts deemed to be clinically significant * Cortical stroke * Respiratory condition requiring oxygen * Untreated hypothyroidism 7. Any other medical condition which is determined by the investigators to potentially create an undue risk for an adverse event 8. Use of medications likely to affect CNS functions (e.g., benzodiazepines, narcotics). Patients are allowed to take cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine as long as the dosage is stable for 30 days prior to study entry.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-01-27