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

The goal of this trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of lithium in people with progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are progressive, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Symptomatic treatment is of minimal benefit to individuals with PSP or CBD, and there are no effective disease modifying agents. Tau phosphorylation is regulated in part by the enzyme GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta ). Inhibition of this enzyme may benefit individuals with PSP or CBD by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated tau. Lithium is known to inhibit GSK-3β and, thus, may be a rational therapeutic approach. The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of lithium in people with PSP or CBD. Additionally, this study will evaluate potential biomarkers and clinical outcome measures as well as assess study drug compliance. In this multicenter, open label study, 45 eligible participants with PSP or CBD will receive the study drug, lithium. The dosage of lithium will be titrated over a 5-week period, and participants will then be followed prospectively for 6 months. Participants will be evaluated at the screening visit, baseline visit, and weeks 2 and 5 during the titration phase. Clinic study visits will then occur on alternate months through week 28. Telephone visits will occur between clinic study visits.