An observational study in Diabetes in Adults, Dementia and Oxidative Stress, sponsored by Neuromed IRCCS. Recruiting at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by Neuromed IRCCS · Observational
The prevalence of dementia and diabetes has increased in recent decades. The WHO forecasts an increase in the all-cause dementia prevalence to 152 million by 2050. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a well-known risk factor for dementia. The prevalence of T2D was estimated to be 6.28% (462 million people) worldwide, and 22% among people aged 70 years and older. Even pre-diabetes has been shown to be a risk factor for all-cause dementia, Alzheimer¿s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD).
There are various mechanisms by which T2D and dementia are connected. First, there are atherosclerotic consequences of T2D that favour VD. T2D is strongly associated with micro- and macrovascular diseases. This association is essentially determined by diabetes duration. Oxidative stress is the direct result of the imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular antioxidant defences. It is involved in the onset of diabetes and neurological pathologies such as AD, Parkinson¿s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, as oxidative stress is a common pathway in diabetes and dementia, the evaluation of oxidative stress, using specific and direct biomarkers, is necessary to monitor the risk of dementia in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, it is important to study the mechanisms that lead to changes in the oxidative state, in order to define new therapeutic targets that allow delaying the eventual onset of dementia.
This project aims at defining how 1) soluble (s)NOX2-derived peptide(dp), a new direct biomarker of oxidative stress, could be used to stratify the risk of dementia in T2D patients; 2) if p47phox, a key cytosolic subunit that drives NOX2 activation, could be considered a therapeutic target to reduce oxidative stress-mediated dementia in T2D.
A clinical Aim will collect data of a T2D population to evaluate cognitive function, by the Multidimensional geriatric assessment (MGA) and cognitive biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ß-amyloid 42/40 and oxidative stress by sNOX2dp.
A second Aim will explore the contribution of NOX2 activation in the thrombotic process and cognitive impairment in T2D patients by the evaluation of endothelial dysfunction, as a thrombogenic risk factor, and quantitative analysis of the thrombus formation process.
Finally, a preclinical Aim will test the hypothesis that p47phox could be a therapeutic target to prevent oxidative stress-mediated dementia in T2D. Specifically, we tested the effects of the p47phox inhibitor peptide both in vitro, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and in animal models (C57BL/6J) of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetes.
Considering the prevalence of dementia in T2D and the uncertainty in their management, the proposed work is expected to generate results of immediate clinical significance.
2,372 studies on the registry are indexed under Dementia; 574 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 250 is close to the median of 256 across 553 observational studies indexed under Dementia.
Browse Dementia studies →Neuromed IRCCS is the lead sponsor of 81 studies on the registry; 25 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Patients with diabetes attending outpatients clinic
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.
Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
TIA (transient ischaemic attack)
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)
Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.
Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Life expectancy
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with diabetes with cognitive impairment
Patients with diabetes without cognitive impairment
Multidimensional geriatric assessment (MGA): MMSE
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Time frame: 18 months
Multidimensional geriatric assessment (MGA): MoCA
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment or The MoCA Test
Time frame: 18 months
Multidimensional geriatric assessment (MGA): SPMSQ
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the Short Portable Mental State Questionary (SPMSQ)
Time frame: 18 months
Multidimensional geriatric assessment (MGA): SBT
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the Short Blessed Test (SBT)
Time frame: 18 months
Lifestyle habits: nutritional assessment
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)
Time frame: 18 months
Lifestyle habits: daily activity
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL), cognitive biomarker BDNF and ß-amyloid 42/40
Time frame: 18 months
Cognitive function evaluation: biomarker BDNF
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the dosage of BDNF and ß-amyloid 42/40
Time frame: 18 months
Cognitive function evaluation: biomarker ß-amyloid 42/40
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo the dosage of ß-amyloid 42/40
Time frame: 18 months
NOX2-mediated oxidative stress
soluble sNOX2-dp by ELISA test
Time frame: 18 months
Thrombus formation
T2D patients, with or without cognitive impairment will undergo evaluation of thrombus formation process will be assessed by quantitative analysis by "Total Thrombus formation Analysis System (TTAS).
Time frame: 18 months
Experimental mice models: NOX2 pathway
The role of NOX2 will be studied by comparing p47phox-/- mice and wild-type C57BL/6J adult mice. p47phox is the cytosolic subunit of phagocyte NOX2, and is required for its activation and subsequent production of superoxide. Diabetes in p47phox-/- mice and in wild-type C57BL/6J adult mice will be induced by the administration of a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks.
Time frame: 18 months
Endothelial dysfunction: FMD
Endothelial function study by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) analysis
Time frame: 18 months
Endothelial dysfunction: VWF
Endothelial function will be evaluated by von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels
Time frame: 18 months
Endothelial dysfunction: ET1
Endothelial function will be evaluated by circulating biomarkers such as endothelin 1, whose enhanced activity and/or levels have been associated to endothelial dysfunction in the insulin-resistant states of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Time frame: 18 months
In vitro study - HUVEC
The effects of p47phox IP will be studied in vitro in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC will be challenged with scalar concentrations of glucose or vehicle. Cell viability will be investigated by FACS analysis. Nitric oxide (NO) production will be measured by diaminofluorescein-FM diacetate and nitrite/nitrate assay, and NOX2 activity will be assessed by ELISA test of conditioned media. The effects of p47phox IP angiogenesis will be also tested in HUVEC subjected to high-glucose stimulation
Time frame: 18 months
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Aug 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2027, 29 months after the start.
Of 271 non-industry observational studies under Dementia, half reached primary completion within 74 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 32 and three quarters within 202. This study's planned 29 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 293 studies reached it within 67 months; a quarter within 29 and three quarters within 188.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Neuromed IRCCS