Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTMRI
We will examine chronic (\>3 months post stroke) patients using functional, structural, and metabolic MRI in both the brain and the spinal cord.
Sponsors
University of Zurich
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameter | Up to 50 weeks] | Structural characteristics in the brain and spinal cord are assessed in chronic stroke patients using conventional MRI and compared to healthy controls |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) parameter | Up to 50 weeks | Metabolic parameter are assessed in chronic stroke patients using MRS in the brain and spinal cord and compared to healthy controls |
| Functional MRI (fMRI) parameter | Up to 50 weeks | Brain activity or change of brain activities between 2 to 5 time points is assessed using fMRI during resting-state or a specific task in chronic stroke patients and compared to healthy controls |
Countries
Switzerland
Contacts
Primary ContactMaryam Seif, PD Dr.
Backup ContactSanne Kikkert
Outcome results
None listed