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Research Areas

Dementia and Neuroprogressive Studies

The Dementia and Neuroprogressive Network supports studies which are funded by an NHS Research Scotland Eligible Funder list. All Scottish research ongoing within the network is registered on the UK Clinical Trials Gateway website. If you would like to find out more about our portfolio or are interested in recruiting to any of our studies please email TAY.ndntayside@nhs.scot.

We support a wide range of research studies conducted within the NHS, at Scottish Universities and in Care Home settings. These include observational studies, genetic studies, drug trials, questionnaire studies and brain tissue banking.

These studies can be entered using the online register Join Dementia Research.

You can also contact our staff in your local area

You can also follow the latest news on dementia & neurodegenerative research in Scotland on our X (Twitter) account, @NRS_NDN or on our Facebook page.

Please see below the studies that each of our health boards are conducting:

NHS Tayside Show more Show less

Open studies (recruiting)

If you are interested in any of the studies below, please email tay.ndntayside@nhs.scot or call 01382 423086.

Parkinson's studies

CANnabidiol for Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis (CAN-PDP)

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
  • Age 40 or older
  • For psychotic symptoms, they should have developed after the PD diagnosis and should have been present for at least 1 month, occurring at least weekly over the month before screening
  • Score of 15 or more on MOCA
  • TAU will include patients on quetiapine and/ or cholinesterase inhibitors (rivastigmine/ donepezil) as well as standard antiparkinsonian treatments with dosage stable for at least 1 month
  • At least 6 months post stereotaxic surgery (deep brain stimulation) and stimulator settings stable for at least 1 month prior to baseline and must remain stable during the trial.
  • Ability to participate in study evaluation and ingest oral medication

BIAL ACTIVATE

A Phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of BIA 28-6156 in Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease with a pathogenic varient in the Glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) Gene

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in last 7 years
  • Aged between 35 and 80 years old
  • A genetic screening to determine if the participant will qualify for the study (which requires a GBA1 gene mutation)

LUMA

A Phase 2b, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of BIIB122 in Participants with Parkinson’s Disease

Inclusion Criteria:

  • between 30-80 yo,
  • diagnosed in last 2 years,
  • can’t change Parkinson's medication

RAPSODI GD

Remote assessment of Parkinsonism supporting ongoing development of interventions in Gaucher disease

Inclusion criteria:

  • Anyone with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

Huntington's Studies

ENROLL HD

A Prospective Registry Study in a Global Huntington’s Disease Cohort

Inclusion Criteria:

  • over 18 years old (unless juvenile diagnosis),
  • diagnosis HD (or 1st degree relative of)

MND Studies

MND SMART

Motor Neurone Disease Systematic Multi-arm Adaptive Randomization Trial

Inclusion criteria: 

  • Over 18
  • Diagnosis of MND

OptiCALS

A Randomised Controlled Trial with parallel Process Evaluation and Health Economic analysis to evaluate a nutritional management intervention, OptiCALS, for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Inclusion Criteria:

  • over 18
  • diagnosed with MND within 2 years (symptom onset)

NHS Lothian Show more Show less

Open studies (recruiting)

If you are interested in any of the studies below, please email loth.sdcrn@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or call 0131 537 3804.

Parkinson's studies

PD Probiotic

This clinical research study is investigating the effects of B. Subtilis PXN21 on gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease. The study is recruiting participants with PD and randomly assigning them to either a treatment group or a placebo group. The treatment group will receive B. Subtilis PXN21 in the form of a pill supplement, while the placebo group will receive a similar-looking and tasting product that does not contain the bacteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
  • Aged 50 and over
  • Have Parkinson's movement systems for between 1-5 years

CANnabidiol for Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis (CAN-PDP)

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
  • Age 40 or older
  • For psychotic symptoms, they should have developed after the PD diagnosis and should have been present for at least 1 month, occurring at least weekly over the month before screening
  • Score of 15 or more on MOCA
  • TAU will include patients on quetiapine and/ or cholinesterase inhibitors (rivastigmine/ donepezil) as well as standard antiparkinsonian treatments with dosage stable for at least 1 month
  • At least 6 months post stereotaxic surgery (deep brain stimulation) and stimulator settings stable for at least 1 month prior to baseline and must remain stable during the trial.
  • Ability to participate in study evaluation and ingest oral medication

COBALT

The trial will look at the use of a drug called Memantine as a treatment for people with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • You MAY have PDD or DLB symptoms 
  • Have been taking AChEI (Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors)
  • Aged 55 or over

RAPSODI GD

Remote assessment of Parkinsonism supporting ongoing development of interventions in Gaucher disease

Inclusion criteria:

  • Anyone with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

Huntington's Studies

ENROLL HD

A Prospective Registry Study in a Global Huntington’s Disease Cohort

Inclusion Criteria:

  • over 18 years old (unless juvenile diagnosis),
  • diagnosis HD (or 1st degree relative of)

NHS Grampian Show more Show less

Open studies (recruiting)

If you are interested in any of the studies below, please email gram.sdcrn@nhs.scot or call 01224 557941.

Parkinson's studies

CANnabidiol for Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis (CAN-PDP)

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
  • Age 40 or older
  • For psychotic symptoms, they should have developed after the PD diagnosis and should have been present for at least 1 month, occurring at least weekly over the month before screening
  • Score of 15 or more on MOCA
  • TAU will include patients on quetiapine and/ or cholinesterase inhibitors (rivastigmine/ donepezil) as well as standard antiparkinsonian treatments with dosage stable for at least 1 month
  • At least 6 months post stereotaxic surgery (deep brain stimulation) and stimulator settings stable for at least 1 month prior to baseline and must remain stable during the trial.
  • Ability to participate in study evaluation and ingest oral medication

Huntington's Studies

ENROLL HD

A Prospective Registry Study in a Global Huntington’s Disease Cohort

Inclusion Criteria:

  • over 18 years old (unless juvenile diagnosis),
  • diagnosis HD (or 1st degree relative of) 

MND Studies

MND SMART

Motor Neurone Disease Systematic Multi-arm Adaptive Randomization Trial

Inclusion criteria: 

  • Over 18
  • Diagnosis of MND

Alzheimer Studies

The Dreamer Study (Detecting Early Alzheimer's using MR)

 Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
  • Aged 60 years or over
  • Do not have diabetes
  • Have not had a major stroke

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Show more Show less

Open studies (recruiting)

If you are interested in any of the studies below, please email ggc.glasgowresearchndn@nhs.scot or call 0141 451 8945.

Parkinson's studies

NORAPS

This trial will look at whether Atomoxetine is safe and well tolerated in patients with PSP and if it will reduce apathy and impulsivity

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of possible or probable PSP
  • Aged between 50-85 years old
  • Stable psycho-active medications for at least 28 days and no plans to change medication

COBALT

The trial will look at the use of a drug called Memantine as a treatment for people with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • You MAY have PDD or DLB symptoms 
  • Have been taking AChEI (Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors)
  • Aged 55 or over

RAPSODI GD

Remote assessment of Parkinsonism supporting ongoing development of interventions in Gaucher disease

Inclusion criteria:

  • Anyone with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

TOPHAT - Pending

This trial will look at whether ondansetron, a drug already used in the NHS as an anti-sickness medication, will be an effective and safe treatment for visual hallucinations in people with Parkinson’s or those with Lewy Body Dementia

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must have Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia
  • Experiencing visual hallucinations – seeing things that are not there