CNS Changes Following Stroke

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: MRI

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04059276

2018-00937 - Stroke

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to better understand the structural and functional changes that the CNS undergoes following stroke and how these changes relate to clinical measures. Both macroscopic and microscopic changes of the brain and the spinal cord will be examined in stroke patients and compared to healthy controls. In terms of structural plasticity, we aim to identify MR biomarkers that allow predicting the course of the patient's neurological status and accurately describe the course of the disease and the recovery. Importantly, we aim to investigate which factors scale the patients' symptoms.

In terms of functional plasticity, we will combine fMRI with behavioural motor and sensory testing to understand i) the structural and functional interplay between spinal and supraspinal neural circuits after stroke possibly driven by beneficial plasticity/regeneration vs. maladaptive plasticity/degeneration and ii) which clinical and behavioural determinants drive functional hand representations in the primary somatosensory and motor cortices to be maintained and which determinants drive reorganisation of functional representations following sensory input loss. We will further investigate the contribution of brainstem reorganisation to plasticity observed at the cortical level and, by doing so, aim to better understand the mechanistic underpinnings of functional reorganisation.

Enrollment: 35 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria - Patients:

• Age 18-80
• Stroke (> 3months)
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria - Patients:

• Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging
• Neurological impairment of body function impairments not induced by stroke
• BMI > 40
• Pregnancy
• Claustrophobia

Inclusion Criteria - Healthy subjects:

• Age 18-80
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria - Healthy subjects:

• Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging
• Pregnancy
• Neurological illness
• Impairment of body function induced by stroke
• Claustrophobia
• BMI >40

Trial design

35 participants in 2 patient groups

Patients with stroke

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: MRI

Diagnostic Test: MRI

Healthy subjects

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: MRI

Diagnostic Test: MRI