MRI Brain (Volumetry, fMRI & MRS) in Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05758220
• Other study ID #: MRI Brain in Autism
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Start date: April 1, 2023
• Est. completion date: May 30, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: March 2023
• Source: Assiut University
• Contact: Mohamed Ab Sayed, MSc
• Phone: 00201008253457
• Email: dr.abudeif[@]gmail.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Clinical Trial Summary

To reach a feasible method for diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) outcome measures:

1. Primary (main):

Measurement of various brain structures, including the total brain volume, the volumes of specific brain regions (such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum), and the thickness of the cortex.

Detection of other concurrent lesions, e.g. tuberous sclerosis

2. Secondary (subsidiary):

levels of various neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and GABA, and other metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), in specific regions of the brain Assessing neural activity and connectivity in the brain in the resting state

Description:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder (or collection of related disorders) of multifactorial etiology, and with a great range in severity of symptoms. ASD affects approximately 1 in 166 children and is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls. Core features of individuals with autism include 1) impairment in reciprocal social interactions; 2) verbal and nonverbal communication deficits; 3) repetitive and ritualized behaviors; and 4) a narrow range of interests. Approximately 30% of individuals with ASD manifest some degree of mental retardation.

Magnetic-resonance (MR) examination allows researchers and clinicians to noninvasively examine brain anatomy in vivo. Structural MR examination is widely used to investigate brain morphology because of its high contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution, and because it entails no radiation exposure; the last feature is particularly important for children and adolescents.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has proven to be a useful tool to investigate aberrant neurobiological function in ASDs because of its excellent contrast properties, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution. fMRI uses specialized pulse sequences to localize metabolic correlates of neural activity linked to relevant neurocognitive processes

Investigating brain network activity during the resting state has emerged as a new method that eliminates the caveats of task-based fMRI studies

The fMRI signal is measured during the resting state and the data is analyzed based on a connectivity approach between subdivisions. To date, brain network activity during the resting state has been investigated in subjects with ASD and typical development in numerous studies. Overall, intrinsic connectivity between subdivisions of the brain is altered in patients with ASD compared to controls.

MRS's finding is that gamma oscillations are reduced in ASD patients. Gamma oscillations are generated by GABAergic neurons and are involved in sensory binding and higher cognitive functions.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 25
• Est. completion date: May 30, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: April 30, 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 3 Years to 12 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children clinically diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Males and Females.

• Children with an IQ of more than 70%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe forms of ASD.

• Children with IQ less than 70%.

• Children with claustrophobia.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder

Intervention

Device:
• MRI
Structural MRI volumetry, resting functional MRI & MR spectroscopy

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Assiut University

References & Publications (3)

Chakrabarti S, Fombonne E. Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children. JAMA. 2001 Jun 27;285(24):3093-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.285.24.3093. — View Citation

Chao HT, Chen H, Samaco RC, Xue M, Chahrour M, Yoo J, Neul JL, Gong S, Lu HC, Heintz N, Ekker M, Rubenstein JL, Noebels JL, Rosenmund C, Zoghbi HY. Dysfunction in GABA signalling mediates autism-like stereotypies and Rett syndrome phenotypes. Nature. 2010 — View Citation

Eliez S, Reiss AL. MRI neuroimaging of childhood psychiatric disorders: a selective review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2000 Sep;41(6):679-94. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Structural MRI brain volumetry	Measurement of various brain structures, including the total brain volume, the volumes of specific brain regions (such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and the cerebellum), and the thickness of the cortex.	Baseline
Secondary	resting functional MRI & MR spectroscopy	levels of various neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and GABA, and other metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), in specific regions of the brain Assessing neural activity and connectivity in the brain in the resting state	Baseline