The objective of this experiment is to establish the effects of tyrosine suppletion on cognitive symptoms seen in ADHD. Cognition will be assessed, while simultaneously recording brain activity.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Cognitive and attention disorders and disturbances
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main study parameter is the number of Commission errors derived from the
continuous performance test (CPT).
Secondary outcome
The following secondary parameters will be tested in this study:
* performance on the stop-signal task as a measure of motor inhibition;
* performance on the verbal learning task as a measure for working memory and
long-term memory;
* the task-switching task as a measure to assess switching attention;
* the Profile of Mood States and Bond & Lader as measures of mood and perceived
alertness;
* blood biomarkers, from which the amount of tyrosine and prolactine will be
analysed, as measure of the association between amount of uptake and cognitive
performance.
Background summary
It is believed that the neurotransmitter Dopamine (DA) is largely involved in
the cause of ADHD symptoms. For this reason, treatment for ADHD currently is
mainly focused on the use of psychostimulants. It is also possible to increase
DA by increasing the availability of DA precursor substance, namely tyrosine.
This method is particularly interesting for ADHD patients, because it resembles
the enhancing effects of psychostimulants on the DA-availability in the brain.
Additionally, since many patients discontinue the use of psychostimulants,
tyrosine suppletion may be a good alternative.
Study objective
The objective of this experiment is to establish the effects of tyrosine
suppletion on cognitive symptoms seen in ADHD. Cognition will be assessed,
while simultaneously recording brain activity.
Study design
This study will be conducted according to an order-balanced,
placebo-controlled, double-blind, 3-way cross-over design.
Intervention
Volunteers will be treated with the dietary supplement tyrosine or a placebo on
three testing days. They will either receive 0, 50 mg/kg body weight, or 100
mg/kg tyrosine.
Study burden and risks
The time investment for the participants will be around 13 hours in total,
spread over one intake session during which the ADHD interview is executed (1
hour), filling in the medical questionnaire (30 minutes) one training session
(1 hour) and three subsequent sessions of testing on different days (3x 3.5
hours). During the three testing days, we will draw 5 ml blood twice.
Additionally, the day before each testing day, the participants are not allowed
to drink alcohol.
Universiteitssingel 40
Maastricht 6229ER
NL
Universiteitssingel 40
Maastricht 6229ER
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Between 18 and 35 years of age;
Willingness to sign an informed consent;
Showing ADHD symptoms, but not sufficient for the diagnosis;
BMI of 18.5-30.
Exclusion criteria
Use of recreational drugs in the past month;
Excessive drinking;
Pregnancy;
Use of ADHD medication in the past;
Allergy for tyrosine containing substances;
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL55624.068.15 |