Study on How Haloperidol and Other Antipsychotics Affect Insulin Action in the Brain and Metabolic Health in Adults Aged 18 to 35

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how the antipsychotic medication haloperidol may affect insulin action in the brain. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels, and in the brain, it influences cognition and information processing. Since haloperidol and similar medications can cause metabolic side effects like weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, this study aims to understand how these drugs might interfere with insulins brain effects to help reduce metabolic risks in the future. Participants will take either haloperidol or a placebo capsule by mouth at night for 7 days, with haloperidol doses gradually increasing up to 2 mg. During MRI scanning visits, participants will receive intranasal insulin lispro or saline to assess insulin effects in the brain. The study uses a randomized, quadruple-blind design comparing haloperidol to placebo, with careful monitoring over up to 5 months. Throughout the study, researchers will measure brain connectivity between specific brain regions, metabolic outcomes like BMI, waist circumference, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, HbA1c, and insulin resistance. They will also assess haloperidol blood levels, sleepiness, cognitive tests, movement scales, and side effects. Participants will complete various assessments and scans during the study, which lasts up to five months from enrollment.

Do Antipsychotics Block Insulin Action in the Brain: is it a Class Effect?