Clinical Research Directory

Finerenone Treatment for Diabetic Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy: the FibroCAN Study

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious and common complication of diabetes that currently has no cure. One form of this condition is cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), which affects about 20% of people with diabetes-an estimated 100 million people worldwide. CAN is a significant risk factor for death and health problems like heart disease and kidney damage, and may contribute to the high rates of cardiovascular-related deaths in people with diabetes. This study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-center trial. The study aims to test whether finerenone can treat cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. The trial will evaluate the effects of 78 weeks of treatment with finerenone or a placebo, assigned randomly in a 1:1 ratio, on early-stage cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. The trial will include 100 participants with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the study will investigate how the treatment impacts other types of neuropathy and related pathological mechanisms.

The Association Between Cognitive Function and Neuropathy in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate whether individuals with different types of diabetic neuropathy (peripheral and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy) are at an increased risk of cognitive impairment and to investigate the potential reasons for this association. The primary research question is: Is diabetic peripheral and cariovascular autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes associated with cognitive decline? To address this question, the study will include individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. All participants will undergo comprehensive neuropathy assessments, neuropsychological evaluations and blood biomarker analysis. In addition, some individuals will undergo structural and functional brain MRI.

Neurovascular Coupling and Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing global health care challenge. Diabetes patients may also suffer from cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) which may affect cerebral perfusion. The main purpose of this project is to investigate the association between CAN and disturbances in the neurovascular coupling in type 2 diabetes patients. Moreover, the purpose is also to investigate coherence between CAN and the enteric nervous system. Finally, this project aims at delineating microstructural changes in the brain tissues as a consequence of CAN.