The Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study is examining the effects of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). GHRH will be given at a dose of 1mg/day for 10 weeks to subjects with MCI as well as healthy controls.

Subjects with MCI as well as healthy controls will be given GHRH at a dose of 1mg/day for 10 weeks.

This study is designed to investigate the effects of GHRH on the following things: 1) cognitive function as measured by our neuropsychologist with a series of short tests; 2) brain activity as measured by fMRI 3) lean and fat mass of your body as measured by DEXA; 4) physical function as measured by a walking test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 55 to ≤ 85 years
• Ability to sign consent form (score ≥ on the Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE)
• MCI group: MMSE scores of 23 - 26
• Normal Control Group: MMSE scores of 27 - 30

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diabetes
• A neurologic condition other than MCI which might cause cognitive impairment
• Baseline serum IGF-1 concentration greater than the midrange for healthy young adults (300ng/ml)
• Presence of a pacemaker or metal implant
• Heart Failure
• Edema
• Active malignancy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Disruption of the hypothalamic pituitary axis such that the pituitary is expected to be insensitive to growth hormone secretagogues such as GHRH
• Known allergy to tesamorelin or mannitol
• Pregnancy
• Significant heart, liver, kidney, blood or respiratory disease
• Active cancer
• Recent (within 6 months) treatment with anabolic steroids, GHRH or corticosteroids
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• MMSE < 23
• Less than 12 years of education
• Significant findings on screening tests, including but not limited to, blood counts, blood biochemistries, urinalysis, drug screening, HIV test, hepatitis panel, electrocardiogram
• Other medical conditions deemed exclusionary by the study investigators