Can a Parkinson's drug boost brain function in depressed seniors?
NCT ID NCT04469959
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether levodopa, a drug used for Parkinson's disease, can improve thinking speed, walking, and mood in older adults with depression. Researchers gave 79 participants either levodopa or a placebo for three weeks. The goal was to see if boosting dopamine could help with the mental and physical slowing often seen in late-life depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Levodopa (carbidopa/levodopa, also known as Sinemet)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a treatment that improves thinking speed and mobility in older adults with depression.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 79 participants. The treatment is short-term, and benefits may not last or apply to everyone. Levodopa can cause side effects like nausea or dizziness.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Nashville, Tennessee, 37212, United States