Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a technique already used in ancient chinese medicine to treat severe diarrhoea. Nowadays, FMT is a standard treatment option for recurrent Chlostridium difficile infections, but there is emerging evidence for its therapeutic efficacy in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A possible mechanism that drives these improvements in gut-symptoms is the repopulation of the bowel with a healthy gut microbiome. A gut dysbiosis, i.e. an aberrance from a healthy microbiome, has also been linked to a number of neurological disorders that lead to a loss of cognitive function. This study looks at the effects of FMT on IBS-symptoms and potential cognitive enhancement in people who suffer from Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Screening questionnaire
Please complete the screening questionnaire to determine your eligibility to take part in this study. If you are not eligible, your response will not be saved or used in this study.
and Campbelltown Private Hospital 42 Parkside Cres, Campbelltown NSW 2560 Campbelltown Hospital and road-side parking is free.
Participation
You will be asked to participate in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. This means that you will be randomised to either receiving the FMT or a placebo. A placebo is a medication with no active ingredients. It looks like the actual treatment, but is not. Both you and the investigator will not know which treatment you receive until the end of this study.
Before receiving the treatment, you will be asked to come in for one in-person appointment for baseline cognitive testing with a neuropsychologist. This will take approximately 1 hour. You will then be referred to a brain-scan (FDG-PET scan) at Campbelltown Hospital. After taking the scan, you will be invited to the treatment-appointment at Campbelltown Private and will be asked to provide a stool sample (self-collection kit will be provided) and a blood sample (taken by us before the treatment).
The FMT/Placebo treatment will be administered as a rectal retention enema by a gastroenterologist and will take approximately 60 minutes. You will then be asked to come in for 4 follow up appointments over the course of a year, where you will retake the cognitive tests and symptom assessments and will be asked to provide further blood- and stool-samples. Another brain scan will be taken at the last follow-up, 12 months after your treatment date. The study will involve 6 face-to-face meetings (5 cognitive tests and sample taking, 1 enema appointment) and 2 brain-scan appointments over the course of a year.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Sara Alaeddin
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