Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) Clinical Trials

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a rare atypical parkinsonian disorder characterized by progressive asymmetric motor dysfunction and cognitive decline resulting from tau protein accumulation in cortical and subcortical structures. Pathologically, the disease is defined by tau pathology with regional variation in affected brain regions. Clinically, patients present with asymmetric rigidity, bradykinesia, and dystonia, often affecting one limb preferentially (the affected limb becomes progressively more stiff and difficult to control).

The most common symptoms of Corticobasal Degeneration include Asymmetric parkinsonism with rigidity and bradykinesia, Dystonia affecting affected limb, Cortical sensory loss and apraxia, Alien limb phenomenon, Progressive cognitive decline, among others. Approximately 1 in 100,000 people. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.

Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Corticobasal Degeneration from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. Tau-targeting therapies showing promise in other tauopathies are being investigated in CBD, with clinical trials now actively enrolling qualified participants. These approaches aim to modulate tau aggregation and toxicity.

As of September 2026, Trial Friend's curated drug index does not include an FDA-approved treatment specific to Corticobasal Degeneration. The Treatments section of this page checks FDA drug labels live and lists any approved drug whose label names the condition, and the trials listed below cover the investigational options.

The exact cause of Corticobasal Degeneration is not fully understood. It is not caused by a single gene; inherited variants raise risk, and immune, environmental or other triggers are thought to set it off. Sporadic tauopathy; the MAPT H1 haplotype raises risk but there is no diagnostic gene test. Approximately 1 in 100,000 people. Research is ongoing to better understand the disease mechanism.

No single gene test diagnoses Corticobasal Degeneration. The diagnosis rests on clinical findings and laboratory or imaging results; genetic variants shift risk rather than cause the disease. Sporadic tauopathy; the MAPT H1 haplotype raises risk but there is no diagnostic gene test.

Some trials collect genetic samples for research or check specific risk markers. The Genetic Testing section of this page shows any tests listed in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry, which for this condition are usually research or risk-marker tests rather than diagnostic ones.

Eligibility for Corticobasal Degeneration clinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.

Participating in a Corticobasal Degeneration clinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.