---
title: Correlate synaptic loss with cognition
nct_id: NCT06875765
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06875765"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06875765"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:02:39.016Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Correlate synaptic loss with cognition

**Goal (in five words):** Correlate synaptic loss with cognition

**Official Title:** Longitudinal Measurement of Synaptic Loss and Cognitive Decline in the Long-term Course of Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT06875765](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06875765)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
- **Target Enrollment:** 35 participants
- **Start Date:** 2025-07-16
- **Completion Date:** 2027-12
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease
- **Interventions:** 11C-UCB-J PET-CT, 18F-PE2I PET-CT, MRI brain
- **Intervention Types:** OTHER, DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

## Summary For Families

The goal is to follow people with Parkinson's over time to see whether loss of synapses in the brain matches and helps predict long-term cognitive decline. Participants get PET scans with 11C-UCB-J, which binds the synaptic protein SV2A to measure synaptic density, and 18F-PE2I PET to measure dopamine transporter levels in nerve terminals, plus MRI for brain structure; these are observational imaging tests that do not change medications like levodopa, they only quantify brain changes. The study is looking for adults age 30 and up who are already in study S61477, who can have MRI, are not pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not have unrelated neuropsychiatric or major medical illnesses, recent significant radiation exposure, or a history of substance abuse.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 30 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participation in study S61477 (NCT04243304)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neuropsychiatric diseases (unrelated to PD for PD patients)
* Major internal medical diseases
* History of alcohol or drug abuse
* Relevant abnormalities on MR brain
* Contraindications for MR
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Previous participation in other research studies involving ionizing radiation with \> 1 mSv over past 12 months.
```

## Locations (1)

- UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium _(50.8796, 4.7009)_
  - Jolien Van Opstal, MD — (CONTACT) — +16338052 — jolien.vanopstal@uzleuven.be
  - Wim Vandenberghe, MD, PhD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
  - Koen Van Laere, MD, MSc, PhD — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)
  - Aline Delva, MD, PhD — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)
  - Jolien Van Opstal, MD — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

## Central Contacts

- Wim Vandenberghe, MD, PhD — (CONTACT) — +3216344280 — wim.vandenberghe@uzleuven.be
- Jolien Van Opstal, MD — (CONTACT) — +3216338052 — jolien.vanopstal@uzleuven.be

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06875765*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06875765*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06875765*