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Search Results Within Category "Brain & Nervous System"
Genetics of Developmental Disorders - Data and Specimen Repository
This project is a data and specimen repository for developmental disorders. Participants provide biological samples and permission to store their health-related data. The purpose is collect and manage these materials for use in biomedical research related to developmental disorders.
• All ages
• Individuals with a developmental disorder (mostly but not exclusively developmental brain disorders)
• Parents and other selected relatives of individuals with developmental disorders
Neuroplasticity in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
REM sleep behavior disorder may predict the eventual symptom development of Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy. This occurs over years to decades and the sleep disorder may hide other typical symptoms and result in a delay in diagnosis. We are studying the changes in the brain over two years. We will do high field MRI’s (7T) and other tests of neurological function of people who have REM sleep disorder and people who don’t have this disorder (matched for age and sex).
• Diagnosis of isolated iRBD confirmed by sleep study
• Able to walk independently without the use of an assistive device (e.g., cane) for at least 50 meters.
• 21 to 75 years old
• Diagnosis of Dementia
• History of musculoskeletal disorders that significant affect movement of lower or upper limbs
• Other significant neurological disorders
• Anti-depressant associated RBD. Individuals will be excluded if their dream enactment emerged or clearly worsened after initiating an antidepressant medication.
• Meet criteria for overt Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Multiple Systems Atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, or other neurodegenerative disorder, or other known cause of RBD (e.g., narcolepsy and drug induced RBD).
• Untreated sleep-disordered breathing
• Pregnant women
Fully Automated Motion-corrected MR Spectroscopy in Human Brain and Spinal Cord
The goal of this proposal is to develop fully automated, high performance, motion-corrected MRS sequences for the brain and spinal cord, that are also easy to share (no additional external hardware needed) with other institutions and easy to use.
• Participants who cannot have an MRI, as determined by the CMRR safety screening form (e.g. metal implant)
• Pregnancy
• Claustrophobia
• Inability or unwillingness to complete an MRI because of low cognitive function or behavioral dysregulation
• Diabetes that has been diagnosed within the past 3 months (diabetes is OK if it is stably controlled (per participant report of either HbA1c <7.0 or stable control for at least 3 months))
• Hearing loss sufficient to prevent communication via telephone
• Weight > 250 and BMI > 35.
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure (>170/100) or working with doctor to stabilize blood pressure
• Severe lung, liver, kidney or heart disease of other major organ failure.
• Head size > 23.25 inches
Neural mechanisms of early visual dysfunction in psychosis
The purpose of this study is to look at symptoms, thoughts, and behaviors related to the way a person sees the world. This is called visual perception. This study will also look at brain function. We will study these things in people with and without psychosis. People with psychosis see the world differently than others. For example, they may experience hallucinations. We are interested in understanding how differences in the way people see the world relate to brain circuits. This project will use visual and behavioral experiments, EEG, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to look at how visual perception is different in people with and without psychosis. This research study has three visits lasting 2-4 hours each. We expect that these visits will take place over 2-3 months, depending on your availability and preferences.
• 18-60 years old
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• current diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• claustrophobia
• current substance dependence (other than nicotine)
• any vision problem (e.g. strabismus/crossed eyes, lazy eye, color blindness)
• current or past diagnosis of bipolar I disorder
teleABLE: Adapting a Behavioral Activation-Based Intervention to Reduce Post-Stroke Sedentary Behavior Using Telehealth (Formative Phase) (teleABLE)
We are exploring ways to increase physical activity after stroke using a web-based rehabilitation program. The purpose of this study is to adapt the Activating Behavior for Lasting Engagement (ABLE) program using video visits so people with stroke can participate from home.
• experienced a stroke in the last 12 months
• currently spend at least 6 hours per day sitting
• access to a device for virtual video visits
EPI-MINN: Targeting Cognition and Motivation in Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis: A National Comparison Study
This is a study enrolling patients receiving care for early psychosis across the United States. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group will use two mobile apps, computerized brain training and a motivational smart phone app, for a period of 12 weeks. The other group will participate in their regular clinical care. There will be 4 study timepoints: intake, post-training, 6-month follow up, and 12-month follow up. There is also an optional interview about experiences of loneliness.
• aged 15-40 inclusive
• enrolled in an early psychosis coordinated specialty care clinic (PI will determine this)
• in good physical health & stable psychiatric status
• fluent in spoken and written English
• have access to a smart phone (or other mobile device) and computer or tablet
• participated in significant cognitive training programs within the last three years
• neurological disorder that may interfere with participation
• substance abuse disorder that would interfere with participation
• risk of suicidal behavior
Brain Connectivity Patterns in Chronic Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
We are studying brain mechanisms related to chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. We are looking at brain structural and functional characteristics that can potentially explain why some people experience persistent pain in their jaws for months or years. We will compare this to information we get from people who do not experience TMD pain. We expect that this new knowledge will improve our understanding of this chronic pain condition and help us develop better treatments.
• Female participants only (biological sex)
• Age between 18-65 years
• Pain-free participants OR
• Chronic jaw pain ( > 3 months)
• Certain medical conditions (examples: heart disease, diabetes, autism, trigeminal neuralgia)
• Any MRI contraindications (examples: metal implants, claustrophobia)
• Being left-handed only
Plasticity of motor systems in early stage Parkinson's disease
The purpose of this project is to provide new knowledge of the relationship between structural and functional changes in cortico-basal ganglia pathways and the severity of motor and non-motor deficits in humans with PD.
• Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
• Not taking medication to treat Parkinson's
• Age: 21-75 years
• Able to walk independently Inclusion Criteria For Control Subject Group: Age and sex matched to participants with PD and able to walk independently
• Dementia diagnosis
• History of musculoskeletal disorders
• History of bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or major depressive disorder
• Other significant neurological disorders that may affect participation or performance in the study
• Implanted DBS or other neurosurgeries to treat PD
• Pregnant women
• History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury
• Intracranial metallic or magnetic devices (e.g. cochlear implant, deep brain stimulator)
• Pacemaker or any implanted device
• History of surgery on blood vessels, brain, or heart
• Unexplained, recurring headaches or concussion within the last six months
• Severe hearing impairment Exclusion Criteria for Control subject Group: same as exclusion criteria of PD group
MultiStem Administration for Stroke Treatment and Enhanced Recovery Study (MASTERS-2)
This study is evaluating the efficacy of MultiStem (drug) on functional outcome in participants with ischemic stroke.
• clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke involving cerebral cortex
• moderate to moderately severe stroke with a persistent neurologic deficit
• stroke involving other areas of the brain
• stroke or head injury within the past 6 months
The Organ Care System (OCS) Lung Thoracic Organ Perfusion (TOP) Post Approval Study (PAS) Registry - OCS Lung TOP PAS Registry (TOP)
To collect additional real-world safety and effectiveness data for the OCS™ Lung System and to expand the long-term clinical evidence supporting the use of OCS™Lung System in lung transplantation.
• people who received OCS preserved double lung transplants
• OR people who receive a single lung transplant from OCS preserved lung pairs from either standard criteria donors
• AND all donor lungs that were perfused on OCS Lung System
Bone as Regulator of Energy Balance and Male Fertility after SCI: A Pilot Study (Osteocalcin Protocol)
This study will evaluate if there is a relationship between bone health, fertility, and metabolism to help develop future treatments for SCI. Both men with and without SCI will be participating in this trial to better understand how bone health, fertility, and metabolism are impacted by an injury to the spinal cord.
• Male age 18-50
• diagnosis of motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI)
• completed inpatient rehabilitation and living in the community
• use a wheelchair as primary mobility mode -English and non-English speakers
• For healthy volunteers: male age 18-50, able to walk independently, English and non-English speakers
• presence of other neurological condition
• use of chronic ventilator support
• metabolic bone disease
• thyroid disorder
• current use of medications potentially affecting bone health (including bisphosphonates (etidronate or didronel, clodronate or bonefos, tiludronate or skelid, pamidronate, or aredia, alendronate or fosamax, ibandronate or boniva, risedronate or actonel, zoledronate or reclast) parathyroid hormone (forteo, teriparatide, abaloparatide), denosumab (prolia), testosterone, estrogen, anti-epileptics (phenytoin or dilantin, phenobarbital, valproic acid or depakene) lithium, glucocorticoid use for more than 3 months, and those who have received inhaled glucocorticoids in the past year)
• study team will review additional exclusion criteria
• for Healthy Volunteers: presence of neurological condition, metabolic bone disease, thyroid disorder, current use of medications that potentially affect bone healthy, osteoporosis, diabetes, infertility, or other medical conditions (study staff will review)
Asymmetries in motor control and their impact on functional independence
We are trying to learn more about how the brain controls movement and how this affects function after stroke. We expect differences in the side of brain damage to result in distinct movements of each arm. We will collect information with standard clinical exams and movements during tasks completed on the Kinereach virtual reality system. We will compare results between people who have and have not had a stroke.
• right-handed
• stroke occurred at least 3 months ago
• stroke on only one side of brain
• weakness on one side of the body
• able to understand instructions
• history of more than 1 stroke
• pacemaker
• pregnant
• major psychiatric diagnosis (schizophrenia, major affective disorder, substance abuse requiring hospitalization)
• significant joint pain
• arthritis
• neurological disease other than stroke
• taking prescription drugs with sedative properties
• unable to have a MRI
Wearable monitor for FOG detection
Freezing of gait is a common problem in people with Parkinson's disease. Episodes of freezing can be overcome when a sensory cue is provided. This study will further develop and study the efficacy of a wireless shoe insole that can monitor walking and provide a cue (acoustic or vibrotactile) when a freezing event is detected. The experiment is designed to further test the ability of the device and algorithm to reliably detect freezing and release the episode with an external cue. This study has the potential to develop a tool that can help reduce the incidence and severity of freezing events in people with Parkinson's disease.
• Age: 21 to 75 years
• Able to walk independently without the assistance of a walking aid
• History of musculoskeletal disorders
• Other significant neurological disorders
• Hallucinations
• Unable to walk
• Legally Blind
• Symptomatic low blood pressure
• Additional exclusion criteria for young and healthy controls: diagnosis of Parkinson?s disease, or a family member with a diagnosis of Parkinson?s disease.
Neurofeedback and Neural Plasticity of Self-Processing and Affect Regulation Circuits in Suicide Attempting Adolescents
The purpose of this study is to examine a new, experimental treatment for adolescents at risk for suicide attempts called neurofeedback training. In neurofeedback training, you are trying to control your brain function on purpose. In this study, your child will see their brain activity (displayed like a thermometer). He/she will recall positive memories to try to change the levels of their brain activity shown on the visual thermometer inside a scanner.
• any gender identity
• 11-17 years old
• past suicide attempt and/or current suicide ideation
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cognitive Developmental Delay (IQ < 75 i.e.intellectual disability)
• diagnosis of Schizophrenia
Wearable sensors for the combined use of early detection of postural instability and fall risk prediction in Parkinson s disease patients
Balance and walking problems in patients with Parkinson’s Disease do not respond well to the typical medication or surgical treatments. This research study uses five small wearable devices that attach to clothing and can measure the body’s location while performing walking tests, balance tests, and normal daily activities. By comparing patients with Parkinson’s Disease to people of similar age without Parkinson’s Disease, we hope to learn important differences relevant to the walking and balance problems in Parkinson’s Disease
• Anyone who has been diagnosed with parkinsonism including Parkinsons disease, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or atypical parkinsonism
• Healthy adults of similar age as study participants
• people who have dementia of sufficient severity to impair their ability to make health-care decisions for themselves
Efficacy and Mechanisms of Combined Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Training in MCI (The ACT Trial)
The purpose of the study is to see how aerobic exercise and cognitive training alone or together affect cognition, brain structure and function, and physical fitness over the course of 18 months.
• diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment
• live in the community
• English speaking
• adequate vision
• physician confirms that exercise is safe
• stable on drugs affecting cognitive and psychological status
• able to have a MRI
• resting heart rate less than 50 or greater than 100
• additional medical or mental health diagnosis (study staff will review)
• enrolled in another intervention study related to cognitive improvement
A Clinical Trial of Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation for Sensory and Motor Recovery in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury
Almost 300,000 Americans with a spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D) suffer from reduced or complete loss of sensory and motor function, which can compromise functional independence and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to find better treatment options for improving sensation and movement after SCI/D.
• 18 to 75 years old
• incomplete or complete SCI/D of more than 3months
• medically stable.
• MRI contra-indications (stabilizing hardware is typically MRI safe)
• uncontrolled seizure disorder
• cognitive impairment and/or communicative disability (e.g., due to brain injury) that prevents following directions or learning
• ventilator dependent
• other major medical complications
• pregnant women
Improving Spinal Cord Stimulation with ECAP
The purpose of this study will be to investigate the optimization of spinal cord stimulation with ECAPs in patients with spinal cord implants.
• medically stable as determined by the principal investigator
• scheduled to have external spinal cord stimulation
• English-speaking
• scheduled for permanent implantation without an external trial
• have a pacemakers or other neurostimulators
• women who are pregnant
Prospective quantitative kinematic assessment of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus
The purpose of this research is to better understand balance and walking in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Balance and walking problems in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus do not respond well to the typical medication treatments. This research study uses small wearable devices that attach to your clothing and can measure your body’s location while performing walking and balance tests.
• People who have dementia of sufficient severity to impair their ability to make health-care decisions
• People who have other types of Parkinson's Disease
• People who are unable to stand without help
Optimization of deep brain stimulation parameters in patients with medically refractory epilepsy
The purpose of this research is to better understand how deep brain stimulation settings can affect the electrical activity in the brain and the frequency of seizures. There are a number of different ways in which the deep brain stimulation electrodes can be programmed to stimulate the brain. This research study uses the implanted battery in the chest to record electrical activity from the brain at different stimulation settings. We then use this electrical activity to determine stimulation settings that are “personalized” to your brain.
Mechanisms of Rigidity Enhancement with an Activation Maneuver in Parkinson's Disease
This study will investigate neural mechanisms underlying the enhancement of rigidity with an activation maneuver (contralateral voluntary movement such as hand tapping) in people with Parkinson's disease. Rigidity will be measured using a custom robotic manipulandum while neural activity will be assessed using EEG and TMS protocols.
• Diagnosis of idiopathic PD as determined by a movement disorders neurologist
• 21 to 80 years old. Healthy participants must be 18 to 80 years old.
• Diagnosis of dementia
• Significant arm tremor or very limited arm movement
• History of other neurological disorders
• Pregnancy
Development of a Non-invasive Approach to Test Cortical-Brainstem Motor Pathways in Humans
The purpose of this project is to develop and test a novel non-invasive brain stimulation protocol, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), that will allow reliable examination of cortical-brainstem motor pathways in humans.
• Healthy adults: age 21-50 years
• People with diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraplegia:
• age 21-50 years
• able to stand, unassisted, for more than 2 minutes
• history of a frequent fainting in response to blood, needles, emotional or sensory triggers
• on anti-coagulant medications
• musculoskeletal disorder that affects the ability to stand
• history of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injury
• presence of any metal in the brain or implanted pacemaker
• history of surgery on blood vessels, brain or heart
• unexplained, recurring headaches or concussion within the last six months
• moderate to severe hearing impairment
• pregnancy
Safety and Acceptability of Patient -administered Sedation During Mechanical Ventilation
This study is comparing the benefits and adverse effects of two delivery methods to help patients relax and decrease anxiety during his/her time on mechanical ventilation. This study is not examining the medication but rather the process of how the patient receives the sedation medication: patient controlled or usual care.
• receiving mechanical ventilation (ventilator) in the Intensive Care Unit
• receiving medication for sedation or pain
• prone (facing down) ventilation being used
• low blood pressure that is being treated with medication
• unstable medical condition (staff will review)