Current Research Studies
REMBRANDT Study - Recurrence Markers, Cognitive Burden, and Neurological Homeostasis in Late-Life Depression
The REMBRANDT study is examining why people experience a return of depression after successful treatment. We hope to determine what factors predict future depressive episodes or may be warning signs of the return of depression. This is a two year study enrolling participants age 60 or older who are currently depressed, who have recently experienced remission from depression, and who have no lifetime history of depression.
D3 Study - Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression
The purpose of the D3 study is to help treat older adults who feel slowed down in their thinking and actions. Slowing down, lack of interest and motivation, fatigue and trouble concentrating are all symptoms of depression. We believe these difficult symptoms are related to the brain's dopamine system. Dopamine is a chemical messenger released by nerve cells. Some medicines used to treat depression affect dopamine. The D3 study will help us examine better treatment targets.
This study is enrolling participants age 60 or older who are currently depressed and feel like they may be moving or thinking more slowly than they used to. We are also enrolling participants who have no history of depression or other mental illness. For depressed participants, the study includes treatment with FDA-approved medications that can improve slowing.
Depressed Mind 3 Study - Depressed Mood Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing 3
The purpose of the Depressed Mind 3 study is to better understand whether a study medication can improve depression and memory performance in older individuals with depression. We also want to determine how the study medication affects brain function in order to cause these changes. We are enrolling participants age 60 or older who are currently experiencing symptoms of depression and are already taking a medication to treat depression.
COG-D Study - Cognitive Enhancement in Depression
The purpose of the COG-D study is to better understand whether a combination of non-pharmacological approaches can improve memory and thinking, as well as depressive symptoms, in older individuals with recurrent depression (2 or more episodes; either current or within past 3 years).
We are examining transcranial direct current stimulation (or tDCS) and computerized cognitive training in this study because past research suggests that these interventions individually may improve thinking skills and depression. Previous pilot work combining these interventions in older adults without depression found encouraging results, such that the application of active tDCS during cognitive training improved outcomes to a greater extent than sham tDCS paired with cognitive training. In this study, we will apply tDCS to both sides of your forehead, which is not approved for the treatment of depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is thus considered an experimental procedure.
