Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular condition characterized by weakness, muscle wasting, fasciculations and increased reflexes. Depending on the site of onset, individuals with ALS progressively lose control of their skeletal muscles; bulbar or the extremities. As symptoms worsen and spread, muscle atrophy becomes apparent and upper motor neuron symptoms such as spasticity complicate gait (in lower limb involvement) and manual dexterity (in upper limb involvement). The patients progress to a state of profound disability and have great difficulty in communicating; some may even be entirely "locked in" to their bodies. The capacity for simple communication could greatly improve their quality of life.

New technologies are giving people with disabilities alternate communication and control options. One such instrument is the EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) which can provide both communication and control functions to those who have lost muscle control. By recording electroencephalographic (EEG) signals or brain waves from the scalp and then decoding them, the Wadsworth BCI allows people to make selections on a computer screen [i] In this study we will be investigating the feasibility of using EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface technology as a communication solution for individuals with ALS. The specific question addressed will be: Can individuals with ALS use the BCI for communication when they present with extreme loss of neuromuscular control and severe communication impairments? The goal of the project is to determine whether this device is a practical and realistic means for individuals with ALS to communicate. The study is intended to evaluate both the complexity of the system and the degree to which each participant will be able to communicate. Trials will consist of asking the subject to follow a series of simple instructions and complete certain tasks while using the BCI.

This study design requires that the individual live in the Philadelphia region. Please contact the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health and State University of New York at Albany directly if you reside outside of this area.


Clinical Trial Description

This study design requires that the individual live in the Philadelphia region. Please contact the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health and State University of New York at Albany directly if you reside outside of this area. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT00718458
Study type Observational
Source Drexel University
Contact
Status Completed
Phase N/A
Start date August 2007
Completion date December 2016

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Terminated NCT04428775 - A Safety and Biomarker Study of ALZT-OP1a in Subjects With Mild-Moderate ALS Disease Phase 2
Recruiting NCT04998305 - TJ-68 Clinical Trial in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Muscle Cramps Phase 1/Phase 2
Recruiting NCT05951556 - Telehealth Implementation of Brain-Computer Interface N/A
Terminated NCT04579666 - MERIDIAN: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pegcetacoplan in Adults With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Phase 2
Recruiting NCT04082832 - CuATSM Compared With Placebo for Treatment of ALS/MND Phase 2/Phase 3
Completed NCT01925196 - Natural History and Biomarkers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia Caused by the C9ORF72 Gene Mutation
Completed NCT02496767 - Ventilatory Investigation of Tirasemtiv and Assessment of Longitudinal Indices After Treatment for a Year Phase 3
Recruiting NCT04816227 - Expression Profile Study of Macrophages From Patients Affected by ALS or Other Related Motor Impairments
Active, not recruiting NCT04494256 - A Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Effect on Disease Progression of BIIB105 in Participants With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Participants With the ALS Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) Genetic Mutation Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT03706391 - Study of ALS Reversals 4: LifeTime Exposures
Recruiting NCT04882904 - Continuous Measurement of Activity in Patients With Muscle Pathology and in Control Subjects. ActiSLA Part. N/A
Completed NCT04557410 - Open Label Study: Treatment of ALS Fatigue With PolyMVA Phase 1
Active, not recruiting NCT04948645 - A Phase 1 Study to Investigate the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of ABBV-CLS-7262 in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Phase 1
Not yet recruiting NCT04089696 - Validation of the "ExSpiron©" in Patients With ALS N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05860244 - Effect of Salbutamol on Walking Capacity in Ambulatory ALS Patients Phase 2
Recruiting NCT02917681 - Study of Two Intrathecal Doses of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Phase 1/Phase 2
Active, not recruiting NCT03067857 - Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Therapy for Motor Neuron Disease Phase 1/Phase 2
Recruiting NCT02874209 - Noninvasive Assessment of Neuronal Damage by MRI Sodium ( 23Na ) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT02567136 - Imaging Biomarkers in ALS
Completed NCT02059759 - Immuno-modulation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis- a Phase II Study of Safety and Activity of Low Dose Interleukin-2 Phase 2