Protocol Details

Structural and Functional Brain Imaging Markers of Upper motor neuron Function

This study is currently recruiting participants.

Summary | Eligibility | Citations | Contacts

Summary

Number	12-N-0060
Sponsoring Institute	National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Recruitment Detail	Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled Gender: Male & Female Min Age: 35 Max Age: 130
Referral Letter Required	No
Population Exclusion(s)	Children
Special Instructions	Currently Not Provided
Keywords	motor Function; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Recruitment Keyword(s)	Healthy Volunteer; HV
Condition(s)	Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Central Nervous System; Volunteer; Neurological Disorder
Investigational Drug(s)	None
Investigational Device(s)	None
Intervention(s)	None
Supporting Site	National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Background:

- People with motor neuron disorders have changes in the parts of the brain that control movement. Some tests that are currently used to study these changes are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We don't know if MRI scans and TMS give the same results if done at different times in the same person. Researchers want to see if these tests produce different results if given to healthy adults on two separate occasions.

Objectives:

- To test the reliability of different tests of the brain used to study motor neuron disorders.

Eligibility:

- Healthy individuals at least 35 years of age who have no history of neurological disorders and take no medications.

- Pregnant women may not participate.

Design:

- Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam.

- Participants will have two testing visits 1 to 6 months apart.

- The first visit will have three parts. The first part is a neurological exam to test strength, sensation, reflexes, and coordination of movement. The second part will be TMS tests. The third part will involve an MRI scan to study the parts of the brain that control movement.

- At the second visit, participants will have MRI scanning only.

--Back to Top--

Eligibility

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Healthy adults aged 35 and older

- No history of a neurological disorder

- Able to give informed consent

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Treatment within the preceding week with medications that affect neuronal excitability, such as antidepressants, sedatives, and drugs for epilepsy or migraine.

- Change in blood pressure medications within the preceding week.

- Metal in the body such as pacemakers, implanted pumps or other implanted electronic devices, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips (metal clips on the wall of a large artery), metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves, and cochlear implants), permanent eyeliner or shrapnel fragments.

- Pregnancy. Women of childbearing potential will undergo urine pregnancy testing before MRI scanning.

- Fear of confined spaces.

- Serious medical illness.

--Back to Top--

Citations:

Ellis CM, Simmons A, Jones DK, Bland J, Dawson JM, Horsfield MA, Williams SC, Leigh PN. Diffusion tensor MRI assesses corticospinal tract damage in ALS. Neurology. 1999 Sep 22;53(5):1051-8.

Tartaglia MC, Laluz V, Rowe A, Findlater K, Lee DH, Kennedy K, Kramer JH, Strong MJ. Brain atrophy in primary lateral sclerosis. Neurology. 2009 Apr 7;72(14):1236-41.

Wong JC, Concha L, Beaulieu C, Johnston W, Allen PS, Kalra S. Spatial profiling of the corticospinal tract in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using diffusion tensor imaging. J Neuroimaging. 2007 Jul;17(3):234-40.

--Back to Top--

Contacts:

Principal Investigator	Referral Contact	For more information:
Mary Kay Floeter, M.D. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) National Institutes of Health BG 10-CRC RM 7-5680 MSC 1404 10 CENTER DR BETHESDA MD 20892-1404 (301) 496-7428 floeterm@ninds.nih.gov	Carol H. Hoffman National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) National Institutes of Health Building 10 Room 7-5680 10 Center Drive Bethesda, Maryland 20892 (301) 496-7428 carol.hoffman@nih.gov	Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office Building 61 10 Cloister Court Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754 Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222 TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free) Fax: 301-480-9793 prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Clinical Trials Number:

NCT01517087

--Back to Top--

QUESTIONS?

Contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office for:

• Details on how to participate in a study
• Details on how to refer a patient to a study

NIH Clinical Studies Information Request

---

Contact the Office of Communications for:

• General information about the NIH Clinical Center

www.cc.nih.gov/contact.shtml

---

Contact the Department Clinical Research Informatics, (DCRI) for:

• Technical questions about Adobe Acrobat and the PDF format
• Technical questions about this web server

webmaster@cc.nih.gov