MRI Biomarkers in ALS

NCT ID: NCT02405182

Last Updated: 2020-12-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

145 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-09-30

Study Completion Date

2019-04-01

Brief Summary

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disabling and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder. There is no treatment that significantly slows progression. Increasing age is an important risk factor for developing ALS; thus, the societal impact of this devastating disease will become more profound as the population ages. A significant hurdle to finding effective treatment has been an inability to accurately measure brain degeneration in humans. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques hold promise in this respect, and may assist in aiding diagnosis and the efficient testing of new drugs.

Different MRI features of brain degeneration will be measured in a large sample of patients with ALS. The study will operate within the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC). CALSNIC is a clinical research platform comprised of ALS clinics with standardized clinical and neuroimaging protocols.

Detailed Description

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This study will use advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques to measure brain changes in ALS and related neurological conditions. Results from cognitive and neurological tests will be compared to the MRI. It is believed that these techniques will reveal changes in the brain that will help us understand normal brain function and the symptoms of neurological diseases as seen in ALS, as well to provide an objective measurement of degeneration (which is called a biomarker). This could improve not only the process by which new drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases are evaluated, but also how health care professionals address the needs of patients with these diseases.

Furthermore, a biomarker may give insight into the biological factors related to the diverse and variable clinical features amongst different patients.

Subjects will be recruited from ALS clinics that are a part of the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC). Patients will have a diagnosis of ALS, PLS, PMA, or FTD. Healthy controls will be age and gender matched to patients. Subjects will visit their respective sites to undergo a clinical evaluation and an MRI. Follow up visits will occur at approximately 3-6 month intervals. Most subjects will have 2 follow up visits; more visits may occur for subjects who are physically able to continue in the protocol.

Conditions

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS Motor Neuron Diseases

Keywords

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI Biomarker

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Patients

ALS patients (as well as patients with other motor neuron diseases such PLS and PMA) will be recruited from ALS clinics under the direction of ALS neurologists who are participating in this study. ALS patients should meet research criteria for possible, probable, probable laboratory-supported, or definite ALS. Patients with a history of CNS disease (e.g. stroke, head injury) or significant psychiatric disease will be ineligible. Patients must be able to undergo a brain MRI for approximately an hour.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type OTHER

Controls

Healthy controls who are age and gender matched to patients will be recruited. Controls with a history of CNS disease (e.g. stroke, head injury) or significant psychiatric disease will be ineligible. Controls must be able to undergo a brain MRI for approximately an hour.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type OTHER

Interventions

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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MRI

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients will be adults with a diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND), including those with ALS, PLS, and PMA, and as well frontotemporal dementia (FTD) without motor neuron signs.
* Healthy controls over the age of 40 will also be recruited and will be age- and gender-matched to patients.

Exclusion Criteria

* Subjects with other psychiatric/CNS illnesses such as Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar disorder, and those with significant head injury.
* Subjects ineligible for MRI investigation due to a pacemaker or other metallic foreign body, or significant claustrophobia that could affect the ability to have an MRI scan.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Calgary

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Western University, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

McGill University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sanjay Kalra

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sanjay Kalra, MD, FRCPC

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Alberta

Locations

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University of Calgary / Heritage Medical Research Clinic

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

University of British Columbia / GF Strong Rehab Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status

Western University / London Health Sciences Centre

London, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

University of Toronto / Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

McGill University / Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Ta D, Ishaque A, Srivastava O, Hanstock C, Seres P, Eurich DT, Luk C, Briemberg H, Frayne R, Genge AL, Graham SJ, Korngut L, Zinman L, Kalra S. Progressive Neurochemical Abnormalities in Cognitive and Motor Subgroups of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Neurology. 2021 Aug 24;97(8):e803-e813. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012367. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34426551 (View on PubMed)

Kalra S, Muller HP, Ishaque A, Zinman L, Korngut L, Genge A, Beaulieu C, Frayne R, Graham SJ, Kassubek J. A prospective harmonized multicenter DTI study of cerebral white matter degeneration in ALS. Neurology. 2020 Aug 25;95(8):e943-e952. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010235. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32646955 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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RES0013831

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id