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An Assessment of Cognitive Function in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

NCT01304355 · Status: UNKNOWN · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 85

Last updated 2011-02-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting up to 20% of the general population. Despite the prevalence of the disorder, it remains poorly understood. This is reflected in a symptom based diagnostic scheme, the lack of a suitable biological marker and inadequate treatment options. Current knowledge suggests the disorder is as a result of a dysregulated brain-gut axis, a complex construct describing the bidirectional communication systems underpinning normal gastrointestinal functioning.

The investigators hypothesize here that the disruption of this brain-gut axis is facilitated by an increased degradation of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. This metabolic abnormality has the potential to impact on both GI and CNS signaling through its effects on serotonergic signaling and the impact of metabolites like kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid on cognitive processes respectively.

Previous data from our laboratory indicated increased tryptophan degradation in IBS patients and suggested the metabolites produced as putative biological markers of the condition. In this study the investigators aim to reconcile cognitive impairment in IBS with GI and CNS symptom severity and kynurenine pathway metabolites.

The investigators will establish these baseline measures in IBS compared to control subjects. A battery of cognitive assessments will be carried out using a computerized testing system. Standardized rating scales will be used to assess GI and CNS symptom severity. GC-MS/MS, a recently acquired technology platform in our laboratory, will be used to quantify plasma quinolinic acid levels.

Conditions

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Science Foundation Ireland

    collaborator OTHER

  • American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society

    collaborator OTHER

  • University College Cork

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Gerard Clarke, PhD · University College Cork

  • Timothy G Dinan, Professor · University College Cork

  • John F Cryan, PhD · University College Cork

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2011-01-31
Primary Completion
2011-12-31
Completion
2012-01-31

Countries

  • Ireland

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01304355 on ClinicalTrials.gov