View clinical trials related to Nerve Degeneration.
Filter by:The purpose of the study is to quantify biomarkers of neural damage in neonates exposed to varying levels of volatile anesthetic in utero.
The current study describes a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study of intravenous G-CSF followed by infusion with autologous mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mPBMCs) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to determine the safety and feasibility of the procedure, as well as the potential efficacy for improving neurological impairment.
The project aimed at identifying neuropsychobiological signatures of pharmacological sex-steroid hormone manipulations in healthy women as a risk model for depression. The study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Investigators included 63 healthy female volunteers with regular menstrual cycles between 23 and 35 days. Participants were randomized to active Gonadotrophin-Releasing-Hormone agonist (GnRHa) (goserelin 3.6 mg implant) or placebo (saline injection) intervention, which was initiated in the mid follicular phase (i.e. cycle day 22.6 ±2.5). Sixty women completed follow-up and entered the analyses, except for a few drop outs on some domains. The following domains were addressed at baseline and at follow-up (16±3 days post intervention), (which corresponded to the early ovarian suppression phase of the biphasic hormone response to GnRHa): 1) serotonin transporter binding as imaged by 11CDASB Positron Emission Tomography (PET), 2) functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) emotional processing, 3) fMRI reward processing, 3) rating state fMRI (rsfMRI), 4) structural MRI, 5) Neuropsychology, 6) Psychophysiology, 7) Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal cortex (HPA)-axis dynamics, 8) Peripheral markers of immunoactive cell responses, 9) Epigenetic factors. Psychometrics in terms of self reported mental distress and interview based ratings were monitored across the intervention period to monitor potential symptoms of mental distress and psychopathology. Also ovarian hormone responses, peripheral blood markers, and side effects scores were collected across the intervention period.
The LEARN study a multicenter, observational study will that will evaluate the rate of cognitive change in approximately 500 clinically normal older individuals who "screen-fail" for the A4 trial on the basis of their screening PET imaging not demonstrating evidence of elevated amyloid accumulation (Aβ negative) but meet all other A4 study eligibility criteria. This study will leverage the A4 infrastructure and maximize the data acquired in screening a large number of well-characterized older adults for the A4 trial. The LEARN observational cohort will provide a critical comparison group for the A4 placebo arm, and future trials in preclinical AD. Although accumulating longitudinal data suggest that older individuals with elevated Aβ burden are at increased risk of cognitive decline, it is important to demonstrate a differential rate of clinical decline between Aβe ("Aβ elevated") and Aβne ("Aβ not elevated") individuals on a standardized set of clinical outcomes. Over 2000 well-characterized, highly motivated older volunteers will "screen fail" for the A4 trial. The LEARN study will follow 500 of these individuals, matched as closely as possible to the two treatment arms, in this observation cohort. The LEARN study may selectively recruit from a specific range of SUVr that fall below the threshold for "elevated amyloid" in order to support analyses of the relationship of baseline SUVr to subsequent cognitive change and amyloid accumulation. The observational cohort will be followed for 384 weeks with identical clinical/cognitive testing performed every 24 weeks, running parallel to the A4 treatment study and open label extension.
The goal of this study is to determine the pattern of early neurodegenerative changes in WFS (Wolfram Syndrome). The investigator will perform cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of youth with WFS, targeting sensitive neural systems with quantified neuroimaging and behavioral measures. In addition, the investigator will establish the utility of a WFS severity rating scale (WFS Unified Rating Scale or WURS). Preliminary data support the feasibility of this approach and its potential to generate important new information about neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative patterns in WFS. This work is necessary to position the field for future clinical trials to test interventions for WFS neurodegeneration. Ultimately, a better understanding of the trajectory of neurodegeneration in WFS and the development of effective interventions may be relevant to other more common neurodegenerative and endocrine (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) diseases in which ER stress has been implicated.
Alemtuzumab is the active agent of a drug called Lemtrada®. In the European Union, Lemtrada® is approved for the treatment of a particular form of multiple sclerosis (the so called relapsing remitting form). The excellent efficacy of the drug justifies its administration albeit a high risk of considerable side effects. In this context, so called secondary (occurring after the administration of Lemtrada®) autoimmune diseases are of particular importance. In these diseases the immune system acts against structures of the body itself; the reasons are still unknown. Autoimmune diseases may even occur several years after treatment with Lemtrada®. Therefore, patients who once received the drug need to undergo intensive long term health monitoring. This study aims to elucidate which mechanisms cause to the positive and negative effects of Lemtrada®. The study includes patients only, who suffer from multiple sclerosis and are indicated to be treated with Lemtrada®. All patients receive the drug according to the official recommendations.
A clear association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been reported. This association is independent of vascular impairment, and therefore, it could be attributed to neurodegeneration triggered or accelerated by diabetes itself. At present there are no methods to identify T2D patients at risk for developing AD. The retina shares many features with the brain and, therefore, has been suggested as an easily accessible way of examining pathology in the brain. In fact, many patients with AD present retinal abnormalities. However, the diagnosis of diabetes, a condition frequently associated with retinal neurodegeneration, has not been considered. On this basis, the final aim of this proposal is to identify diabetic patients at risk for developing AD based on the assessment of retinal neurodegeneration by means of non-invasive tests. Specific aims: 1) To compare the prevalence of morphological and functional abnormalities related to retinal neurodegeneration among three groups of T2D patients: patients with AD, patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and patients without AD or MCI. 2) To assess whether the retinal neurodegenerative features are related to severity of AD. 3) To explore whether the combined retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic patients with AD has a different functional and/or morphological pattern in comparison with neurodegeneration secondary to diabetes alone. Methods: Case-control study. Retinal neurodegeneration will be assessed by mutifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The potential confounders will be considered in data analyses. Feasibility: A unique multidisciplinary consortium has been created in order to warrant the feasibility of the project Expected impact: This innovative approach will fill a gap that currently exist in the health care system and will reduce the economic burden associated with T2D patients with AD. In addition, this project would be the backbone for future prospective studies.
Patients with PKAN will be treated with the iron chelator deferiprone for 18 months. Only patients who have completed the earlier study TIRCON2012V1 (NCT01741532), a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in which participants were randomized to receive either deferiprone or placebo for 18 months, are eligible to enroll.
The purpose of this study is to learn whether blood flow in the brain is normal in people with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). Specifically, preliminary data suggest a region of the brain called the globus pallidus (GP), a key region affected by PKAN, may have reduced blood flow. Standard MRI and perfusion scanning techniques will be used to learn about cerebral blood flow in the globus pallidus and compare it to blood flow in other brain regions as well as to healthy controls.
Friedreich's ataxia is characterized by progressive alterations in the function of the cerebellum accompanied by an atrophy of the spinal cord. Although the genetic defect responsible for the disease has been identified more than 15 years ago, objective markers of the pathologic process (i.e., biomarkers) that would allow measuring the effects of potential therapies are still lacking. Moreover, it is still unclear how the malfunction of the cerebellum affects the rest of the brain, and understanding the connectivity and neurochemistry of the central nervous system might yield new insights in the understanding of the disease, in addition to providing potential markers. To address these needs, the investigators aim at utilizing the capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy (MRS). Using techniques called Diffusion Imaging, resting-state functional MRI, and Proton Spectroscopy (1H MRS), the investigators propose to determine the differences in the connectivity and neurochemistry of the spinal cord and the brain between patients affected by Friedreich's ataxia and healthy controls. The investigators plan on imaging both patients and control subjects using a 3T magnet, a system that although not yet available in all medical facilities, is becoming standard in most hospitals and clinics. The first aim is to scan patients already scanned last year (12-month follow-up). The second aim is to scan patients at an early stage of the disease.