Baricitinib / Cognitive Symptom / Depressive Symptoms · Phase 2 Trial

JAK Signaling in Depression and Cognition in Male Football Players

ClinicalTrials.gov · August 20, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This is a Phase 2 clinical trial registration examining baricitinib (a JAK inhibitor) in male football players with depressive and cognitive symptoms. The trial is not yet recruiting and no results have been posted; the registry record describes only the planned study design and primary outcome (fMRI-based Monetary Incentive Delay task at baseline and weeks 2 and 8).

What was studied

Phase 2, Interventional, Single Group, Open label, Basic Science purpose. Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Symptom; Male; age from 30 Years; to 55 Years; accepts healthy volunteers. Intervention: Baricitinib. n = 30. 3 sites: United States.

Key findings

Safety

No efficacy, safety, or neuroimaging data are reported; primary outcome is a surrogate (fMRI activation) rather than a clinical endpoint.

Who this may help

The source did not state who this applies to in practice.

Plain-language summary

Phase 2 interventional trial not yet recruiting; no results posted. Study design and population are defined but outcome data are not yet available.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsPrimary outcome measure: Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) Task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (assessed at Baseline and weeks 2 and 8 post-intervention)

DesignPhase 2, Interventional, Single Group, Open label, Basic Science purpose

PopulationDepressive Symptoms, Cognitive Symptom; Male; age from 30 Years; to 55 Years; accepts healthy volunteers

Sample size30

InterventionBaricitinib

Setting3 sites: United States

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Planned enrollment30

PhasePHASE2

Primary outcome measureMonetary Incentive Delay (MID) Task fMRI

Primary outcome time pointsBaseline and weeks 2 and 8 post-intervention

Caveats

This is a registry record; no results have been posted and recruitment has not yet begun (status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING).
Comparator arm (active control, placebo, or standard care) not specified in the registry record.
Blinding status and randomization method not stated.
No efficacy, safety, or neuroimaging data are reported; primary outcome is a surrogate (fMRI activation) rather than a clinical endpoint.

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

moderate

Phase 2 interventional design with fMRI primary outcome; enrollment and comparator not fully specified in registry.

Directness

moderate

Target population defined (football players with depression); primary outcome uses neuroimaging surrogate, not clinical endpoint.

Consistency

insufficient

Registry record only; no results reported; consistency cannot be assessed.

Risk of bias

insufficient

Blinding, randomization method, and allocation concealment not described in registry record.

Sample adequacy

limited

Estimated enrollment 30 participants; small sample for Phase 2 neuroimaging study.

What is missing. This record has no key findings. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.

Source abstract

Registry record from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07608796). This is a study registration, not published results. Lead sponsor: Emory University. Recruitment status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING. Phase: PHASE2. Study type: INTERVENTIONAL. Enrollment: 30 participants (ESTIMATED). Conditions: Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Symptom. Interventions: DRUG: Baricitinib. Primary outcome measures: Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) Task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) , Baseline and weeks 2 and 8 post-intervention. Brief summary: This study is being done to learn more about the role of inflammation in depressive and cognitive symptoms in patients with depression who have played at least 11 years of organized tackle football. This will be evaluated using a medication called baricitinib, which blocks one aspect of inflammation.

Follow from this

Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.

BaricitinibCognitive SymptomDepressive SymptomsNCT07608796Emory University