332 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: The way the brain processes rewards and punishments may play a role in some disorders of the nervous system. People with chronic overlapping pain conditions (such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome \[ME/CFS\]) may have heightened responses to unpleasant, punishing sensations. Some of these conditions may also cause heightened responses to effort; this is an unpleasant sensation felt during physical and mental exertion. Objective: To learn more about how the brain processes different unpleasant sensations. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 50 years with ME/CFS. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will have 3 visits in 1 to 5 weeks. Visit 1: Participants may have a neurologic exam. They will have a mock magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They will lie on a bed in a wooden tube while they practice 2 tasks: Thermal pain rating: A device that creates mild to moderate heat will be placed on one leg. Physical effort rating: Participants will squeeze a plastic bar with different levels of force. Visit 2: Participants will have a real MRI scan. They will lie on a table that slides into a large tube. Visit 3: Participants will have another MRI scan. They will repeat the thermal pain and physical effort tasks while in the scanner. Sensors will be placed on 1 arm to measure how the muscles function as they squeeze the bar. Their heart rate will be tested: They will hold their finger against a camera lens for 1 minute. They will do 2 other tasks: 1 requires repeatedly pressing a key on a keyboard, and the other requires squeezing a bar.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often causes persistent motor and cognitive deficits in children resulting in functional limitations. We are testing a brain stimulation method along with evaluating objective tools to help record and restore communication among affected brain areas, which will facilitate recovery in youth after mTBI.
Since its launch in 2004, the overarching aim of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Study has been to validate biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials. ADNI4 continues the previously funded ADNI1, ADNI-GO, ADNI2, and ADNI3 studies that have combined public/private collaborations between academia and industry to determine the relationships between the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of AD.
Using a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study, this study will evaluate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a pharmacodynamic biomarker of opioid antagonism in adolescents with eating disorders. The hypothesis is that fMRI will be able to detect acute reward pathway modulation by naltrexone (an opioid antagonist) in pre-defined regions of interest (anterior cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex).
The purpose of this research is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate how the brain forms associations between neutral and negative stimuli. The ultimate goal is to understand the neural systems involved in regulating negative emotional responses to fearful stimuli.
The purpose of this open-label, pilot study is to evaluate fMRI as a biomarker of opioid antagonism in adolescents with ED. Modulation of brain activation will be examined in regions of interest by fMRI using a food-specific and general reward task in adolescents with ED in a pre/post design.
This within-subject, double blind, randomized controlled study will investigate the effects of a widely used benzodiazepine (BZD), lorazepam, on various neuroimaging measures. The investigators will be assessing the relationship of lorazepam to resting state functional connectivity and other neuroimaging measures. Specifically, the investigators will be using a pre-identified metric, the striatal connectivity index (SCI), (Sarpal et al. 2015, 2016), a prognostic biomarker of treatment response assessing the connectivity between regions of the striatum and the cortex. The investigators hypothesize that lorazepam administration will be associated with greater SCI values compared with placebo administration; consistent with previous work suggesting short-acting benzodiazepines increase functional connectivity across brain networks.
The purpose of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate how the human brain learns to form associations between neutral and emotional stimuli. The study is based on the basic principles of Pavlovian conditioning. When someone learns that a neutral stimulus (such as the sound of a bell) predicts an unpleasant stimulus (such as a mild electrical shock), the neutral stimulus takes on the properties of an emotional stimulus. The investigators are interested in the neural processes involved in this learning in people with a clinical anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The study will compare the impact of Child STEPs versus usual school-based therapy on neural and companion behavioral measures of self-regulation.
The goal of this study is to identify the most reliable methods of analysis for tracking CBD, PSP, and o/vPSP over time. The results from this study may be used in the future to calculate statistical power for clinical drug trials. The study will also provide information about the relative value of novel imaging techniques for diagnosis, as well as the value of imaging techniques versus testing of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 'biomarkers'.
This study is intended to examine the impact of learning amyloid brain imaging results among asymptomatic older adults, and how to safely communicate these results and educate on the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Since its launch in 2004, the overarching aim of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has been realized in informing the design of therapeutic trials in AD. ADNI3 continues the previously funded ADNI-1, ADNI-GO, and ADNI-2 studies that have been combined public/private collaborations between academia and industry to determine the relationships between the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The overall goal of the study is to continue to discover, optimize, standardize, and validate clinical trial measures and biomarkers used in AD research.
The investigators are examining the effects of exercise and cardiovascular fitness on cognitive processes, brain function, and the amount of several proteins in the blood. These proteins include a hormone called cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone," and a growth factor called "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" (BDNF). The "stress hormone" cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. Stress, exercise, obesity, and other factors may influence cortisol levels. BDNF is a protein that promotes the health of nerve cells in the brain and in the body. It plays a role in the growth, maturation, and maintenance of these cells. The amount of this protein in blood samples is therefore an indicator of healthy nerve cell function. Here, the investigators are investigating if exercise improves brain function by changing BDNF levels. Participation in this research study will take approximately 4 months. During this time, participants will make four initial study visits. The first visit is for informed consent and screening, the second and third visits are for baseline fitness testing, and the fourth visit is for a blood draw, cognitive testing, and a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) exam. Functional MRI is a brain imaging technique that uses a magnetic field to "take pictures" of the brain while a person performs a given task. It will take up to approximately three weeks to complete these initial four study visits. Following the four initial study visits, the exercise-training program will begin. Participants will be randomized to one of two training programs: an aerobic exercise program and a non-aerobic exercise program consisting of strengthening, balance and stretching exercises. The exercise training program will last 12 weeks. There will be three one-hour exercise sessions per week. After completion of the exercise-training program, participants will attend three follow-up study visits. The first two follow-up visits are for fitness testing. The third and final follow-up visit is for a blood draw, cognitive testing, and an MRI exam.
The purpose of this study will be to replicate previous findings of deficits in prefrontal activation during response inhibition tasks in bulimia nervosa and extend these findings by demonstrating similar deficiencies in activity during a functional behavioral task that requires the inhibition of eating. Findings from this study will potentially help to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms of bulimia nervosa, and thus inform treatment and prevention efforts.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate several different tests, including brain imaging, eye movement testing, body fluid samples, measurements of memory and other thinking abilities, and measures of functional independence in the hope that this information can be used to guide diagnosis and treatment of PSP and CBD in the future. Recent advances in our understanding of the biological causes of these diseases offer hope for new treatments. As such treatments are developed, sensitive and specific biological measurements (biomarkers) will be needed to provide precise and direct measures of the state of the brain, which will improve the statistical power of clinical trials. Brain imaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has previously been used to measure disease-related changes in the brain. The goal of this study is to identify the best methods of analysis (including eye movements, imaging, and behavioral measures) for tracking PSP and CBD over time. In addition, certain biomarkers in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid might also be useful for following these diseases over time. This study will examine the value of blood and CSF biomarkers relative to brain imaging and functional measures.
In the proposed study, the investigators will assess the brain's dopamine response to UVR light in individuals who use tanning beds both frequently and infrequently.
The purpose of this study is to build upon the information obtained in the original Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI1) and ADNI-GO (Grand Opportunity; a study funded through an NIH grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), to examine how brain imaging technology can be used with other tests to measure the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). ADNI2 seeks to inform the neuroscience of AD. This information will aid in the early detection of AD, and in measuring the effectiveness of treatments in future clinical trials.
The purpose of this study is to examine how brain imaging technology can be used with other tests to measure the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). This information will aid future clinical trials by providing a standard assessment tool to measure the effects of treatments being studied.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by elevated intracranial pressure leading to symptoms like papilledema, headache, and cognitive dysfunction. While the etiology is complex, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid dynamics due to venous outflow restriction from transverse sinus stenosis (TSS) is common. TSS may disrupt the glymphatic system, a brain-wide network facilitating cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid exchange, by impairing CSF absorption, altering perivascular space dynamics, and disrupting pressure gradients crucial for waste clearance. Venous sinus stenting (VSS) can improve symptoms in many patients by alleviating venous congestion, but its effects on glymphatic function are unclear. This prospective study aims to evaluate novel quantitative brain imaging metrics as surrogate markers to better understand IIH pathophysiology before and after VSS in patients with refractory IIH and TSS. The investigators will use advanced MRI techniques, including MR elastography (MRE) to assess brain stiffness, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate water diffusion, arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging to measure blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and functional MRI to analyze pain networks. The investigators hypothesize that 1) these noninvasive imaging metrics will correlate with the degree of venous congestion and changes after venous sinus stenting (VSS) and 2) the imaging findings will correlate with clinical treatment outcomes. By correlating imaging markers with venous pressures and symptom changes, the investigators aim to gain insights into IIH mechanisms, expand diagnostic tools, and potentially guide clinical decision-making and treatment response monitoring. The overarching goal is to better understand IIH's underlying pathophysiology, which could lead to improved diagnostic criteria, more targeted treatments, and better prediction of treatment outcomes for patients with this challenging condition.
Background: Puberty is a normal part of life. Many big changes occur in all parts of the body as a child matures into an adult. Researchers in this study want to find out more about how the brain changes during puberty. Objective: To study changes that occur in the brain before, during, and after puberty. Eligibility: Healthy children aged 9 to 14 years. Design: Participants will have 2 clinic visits. Each visit will last up to 4 hours. In the first visit, participants will be screened: They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will complete a mental health questionnaire on a computer. They will undergo a mock magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Participants will be made comfortable as they lie on the table and slide into the big tube. They will learn what it feels and sounds like to lie still inside a real MRI. At the second visit, participants will have more tests: They will have a physical exam with blood tests. This time the doctor will check for their stage of puberty. The doctor will look at and touch their genitals and breasts. They will have a real MRI exam. An x-ray will be taken of their hand and wrist. This will show how their bones are maturing. They will have a DEXA scan. They will lie on a table while a machine uses x-rays to measure the makeup of their bodies, including bone, muscle, and fat. They will have a 3D body scan. They will wear tight clothes and a shower cap. They will stand on a platform while sensors take pictures of their body.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the acute effects of escitalopram (Lexapro®) on select brain networks during task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in adolescent individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hope to learn more about the acute effects of escitalopram and how it might be used to treat inflexible thinking or rigid-compulsive behavior that can be associated with restricted and repetitive behaviors in adolescents with ASD. Participants will: * Attend 3 visits to complete tests of thinking abilities and fill out surveys about their health and behavior * Be randomly assigned to receive escitalopram at one of the first two visits after screening and a placebo at the other visit. * Complete a reward-based task that tracks eye movement, either during MRI or in laboratory environment.
This is a clinical study of patients who have low back pain (for at least 6 months). The goal is to understand, with brain imaging, how auriculotherapy (an acupuncture-like stimulation of the ear) may work to relieve pain. There are 4 total study visits, divided into two pairs of visits that occur before and 5-7 days after receiving either a real or sham auriculotherapy treatment. The cryo-IQ device will be used, to stimulate 7 small areas on both ears with a focused jet of cold as a small amount of compressed gas is released. This is generally not painful, and less invasive, compared to using needles for auriculotherapy.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of acute pain on long-term memory and conditioned physiologic responses in the presence and absence of low dose nitrous oxide. Functional magnetic resonance imaging will be used to identify the neural correlates of these phenomena. The study will occur over 2 visits and involves no long-term follow up.
This clinical trial will compare the effects of Swedish massage or light touch therapy on brain activity and symptoms of anxiety. This is a randomized research study and subjects will be randomized into one of two study touch intervention groups, and will have an equal chance of being placed in one of the groups: 1. Swedish massage therapy twice per week for 6 weeks. 2. Light touch therapy twice per week for 6 weeks. The Primary Objective is to identify brain networks activated by touch interventions using fMRI brain imaging in subjects with generalized anxiety disorder. Subjects will undergo two fMRI scanning sessions (one before and one after) twice per week for 6 weeks of touch intervention. Subjects will also be asked to complete questionnaires on anxiety, stress and depression.
The purpose of this study is to decode different thinking states from the brain activation patterns and identify the neural circuits that disengage from these thinking patterns using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurement in individuals with major depressive disorder.
This study evaluates 7 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in observing changes in the brain (neuroimaging) in testicular cancer patients who have decreased testosterone (hypogonadism) and are on testosterone (androgen) replacement therapy. Symptoms of hypogonadism can include fatigue, weakness, loss of libido, depression, poor concentration and erectile dysfunction. Some patients experience mental changes after diagnosis and treatment. There is some evidence that hypogonadism produces structural changes in the brain. The 7T MRI uses radio waves and a very powerful magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This study may help researchers learn if 7T MRI can produce better images to assess the changes in the brain structure of testicular patients with hypogonadism and on androgen replacement therapy (ART).
The purpose of this study is to compare activity in the brains of female adults with chronic pain and/or opioid use, and healthy female adults that may help to develop new and targeted treatments for adults with chronic pain and alternatives to opioid therapy.
60 young adult African American vapers who are not current smokers will participate in a baseline functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment, with 4 weekly follow-up surveys to gauge their tobacco use behaviors following the baseline scan. Baseline fMRI tasks will probe critical neurocognitive markers with high potential to account for individual differences in nicotine use prognosis and responsiveness to anti-vaping public service announcements (PSAs).
The goal of this clinical trial is to discover brain-based subtypes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and examine treatment response to two different repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targets in the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the right prefrontal cortex (rPFC).
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of the death in the United States, and is high among US Veterans, and those who have experienced trauma are more likely to smoke. Despite the efficacy of current evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation, there is a critical need for alternative treatments. This project seeks to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a smoking cessation treatment for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who smoke. The treatment combines smoking cessation counseling, nicotine replacement therapy (e.g., nicotine gum), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS is a noninvasive brain stimulation treatment that has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation in adults.