A Pilot Trial of Lithium in Subjects With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Corticobasal Degeneration

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Able to give informed consent
• •2. Able to comply with the study protocol, including ability to attend follow-up study visits for the duration of the study
• •3. Diagnosis of PSP or CBD based on the following criteria:
• •1. Probable PSP:
• •* Gradually progressive akinetic disorder
• •* Unequivocal and prominent slowing of vertical saccades or vertical supranuclear gaze palsy
• •* Early prominent postural instability or early falls
• •* Poor or absent response to levodopa
• •2. Probable CBD:
• •* Chronic progressive course
• •* Asymmetric onset
• •* Presence of higher cortical dysfunction (apraxia, apraxia of speech, non-fluent aphasia, cortical sensory loss, or alien limb)
• •* Movement disorder: rigid/akinetic syndrome resistant to levodopa and either dystonic limb posturing or focal myoclonus in limb (spontaneous or stimulus sensitive)
• •4. If psychotropic or anti-parkinsonian medications are taken (e.g., anxiolytics, hypnotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, levodopa, amantadine), the dosage must be stable for 28 days prior to the screening visit and should be maintained at constant dosages throughout the study, as possible
• •5. If NSAIDs, ACE-Is, ARBs, thiazide diuretics, COX-2 inhibitors or theophylline are taken by the subject, the dosage must be stable for 28 days prior to the screening visit and should be maintained at constant dosages throughout the study, as possible.
• •6. Creatinine clearance \> 50 ml/min
• •7. Able to take oral medication
• •8. Women must not be able to become pregnant (e.g., post menopausal, surgically sterile or using adequate birth control methods for the duration of the study.)
• •9. Able to identify a study partner