Can a Parkinson's drug fix brain injury brain fog?

NCT ID NCT02260570

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether the drug tolcapone can help veterans with mild traumatic brain injury improve memory and self-regulation. Fifty-five veterans underwent brain scans and cognitive tests while taking either tolcapone or a placebo. The goal was to see if the drug changes brain activity and boosts memory performance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Tolcapone (Tasmar), a COMT inhibitor drug
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a medication to help improve memory and impulse control after mild traumatic brain injury.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small trial (55 people) testing brain scans and cognitive tests, not a proven treatment. Tolcapone may not show clear benefits and has known liver risks.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Brain Concussion post-traumatic stress disorder traumatic brain injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Contacts and locations

Locations

VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA

Sacramento, California, 95655, United States

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