Take a dopamine medication to see if it helps with depression symptoms

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Recruiting

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether levodopa (L-DOPA), a medication that replaces dopamine in the brain, can help treat depression in adults over 60. Some people with depression experience slowed thinking and movement—and this trial investigates whether the medication might improve these specific symptoms. Researchers will measure how well the treatment works before and after participants take the medication.

Late-life depression—depression in adults over 60—often includes slowed thinking and movement that can make daily life harder. Researchers believe this slowing might be caused by low dopamine in the brain, and this medication has been used safely for decades to treat other conditions. This trial will explore whether it might also help with depression in older adults.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 60 years old or older
you have been diagnosed with moderate to severe major depressive disorder
you have been on a stable dose of depression medication for at least 4 weeks
you are able to visit the research site regularly and follow the study schedule
you can provide informed consent and understand the study in English

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a diagnosis of major cognitive decline or dementia
you are currently experiencing active suicidal thoughts
you have uncontrolled heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or a history of heart attack
you have a history of melanoma or suspicious skin lesions
you are currently taking dopamine-blocking medications or high-dose anti-anxiety medications

What participation looks like

You would take the medication once daily for the first week, then twice daily for the second week. Before and after this two-week period, the research team will assess your depression symptoms and test your thinking speed and movement through simple tests. If you still have moderate to severe depression after the two-week trial, you would receive standard antidepressant medication for 12 weeks while continuing to be monitored by the research team.

Testing a Dopamine Medication for Depression in Older Adults

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)