Ketamine for Veterans With Parkinson's Disease (NCT06231563)
Examining Ketamine Effects on Depression, Neuroplasticity, and Inflammation in Veterans With Parkinson's Disease
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating illness that has a growing impact on Veterans. One of the most disabling symptoms is depression, which is common in PD and linked to poor quality of life and higher risk of suicide. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective treatments for depression in PD. Ketamine, which has rapid and potent antidepressant effects, is a potential option but has not been tested in Veterans with PD. Studies in rodents show that ketamine may not only improve depression in PD, it may target two of the underlying drivers of the disease: (1) reduced neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to adapt and remodel itself; and (2) elevated inflammation. The investigators are conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled study to examine if a dose of intravenous (IV) ketamine improves depression in Veterans with PD. The investigators will also examine ketamine's effects on neuroplasticity and inflammation, which will help us understand how ketamine works in PD and if it can be a useful treatment for Veterans with the disease. This study will lay groundwork for a larger clinical trial across multiple VA sites.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA — San Francisco, California
Age range: 40 Years to 80 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA — San Francisco, California
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (415) 221-4810
Email: ellen.bradley3@va.gov
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Parkinson's Disease
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- Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability Study of ND0612 vs. Oral Immediate Release Levodopa/Carbidopa (IR-LD/CD) in Subjects With Parkinson's Disease Experiencing Motor Fluctuations — Phoenix, Arizona
- Long-term Follow-up of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Gene Transfer in Parkinson's Disease — New Haven, Connecticut
- Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics of BIA 28-6156 in GBA-PD — Phoenix, Arizona
- Cont. of a Study to Evaluate Implanting Peripheral Nerve Grafts Into Subjects With Parkinson's Disease (PD) During DBS — Lexington, Kentucky
- ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS for Unilateral Pallidotomy for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease — Toronto, Ontario
Explore by condition: All Parkinson's Disease clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.