Brain Markers Predicting Reading Recovery After Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03845686

Last Updated: 2021-08-31

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 26 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-04-04
• Study Completion Date: 2021-07-01

Brief Summary

For millions of stroke survivors acquired reading deficits represent a significant handicap preventing them from returning to work or continuing their education. The goal of the proposed research is to investigate what brain mechanisms enable recovery of impaired reading. To achieve this goal, the project will directly measure changes in brain perfusion (blood flow) and activation among recovering stroke survivors using a neuroimaging technique called perfusion fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The project will test if re-perfusion (return of circulation) and re-appearance of reading-related brain activity in the left-brain network for reading is associated with recovery. The ability to predict recovery from neuroimaging has tremendous value in rehabilitation for generating prognoses. It may also dramatically improve the quality of research evaluation for novel, targeted interventions such as noninvasive brain stimulation or pharmacologic therapies.

Detailed Description

There is a fundamental gap in understanding the neuro-behavioral time-course of reading recovery following stroke. It is not known whether recovery of reading is associated with improved blood circulation and neural activity of the peri-infarct area, or whether circulation in the unaffected, contralateral brain areas contributes to functional recovery. Continued existence of this gap represents an important problem because, until it is filled, knowledge about optimal timing and targets for restorative therapies to improve reading will remain out of reach. The long-term goal is to develop clinical prognostic and therapeutic tools to improve reading limitations. The overall objective of this project is to characterize the neural mechanisms of recovery from stroke-induced reading impairments. The central hypothesis of this study is that subacute-to-chronic recovery of reading ability is potentiated by reperfusion (improved blood flow) of the left reading network. Reperfusion promotes the return of neural activity and supports behavioral recovery. In contrast, increased perfusion of the right brain areas represents a maladaptive response and is associated with worse chronic reading ability. This hypothesis has been formulated on the basis of preliminary data. The rationale for the proposed research is that once the neural recovery from stroke-induced reading impairments is characterized, clinicians will be able to predict individual recovery potential and select appropriate rehabilitation goals. Guided by strong preliminary data, this hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: 1) Determine whether post-stroke changes in cerebral blood flow predict recovery of reading ability; and 2) Determine whether increased baseline perfusion of the left reading network is paralleled by greater reading-related neural activation. Under the first aim, perfusion in the peri-infarct tissue, left reading network, and homologous right brain areas will be examined among left stroke patients with reading impairments. A non-invasive measure of perfusion (Arterial Spin Labeling, ASL MRI) will be applied longitudinally: <4 weeks post-stroke (sub-acute) and >3 months post-stroke (chronic) to test if increased perfusion of the left reading network is coupled with an improvement of reading accuracy. Under the second aim, reading-induced brain activity will be recorded in the same group of patients using perfusion-based functional MRI. The effect of task-related neural activity on recovery will be separated from the effect of cerebral blood flow by statistically controlling for baseline circulation and by modeling independent contributions of perfusion and BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) signals in order to estimate cerebral oxygen consumption rate, which is directly related to neural activity. The conceptual innovation of this study is that it offers the opportunity to examine reading recovery as distinct from other functions. The methodological innovation is in using simultaneously-acquired perfusion and BOLD signals, helping to measure longitudinal changes in circulation and neural activity with unprecedented precision. The proposed research is significant because it can help greatly improve the effectiveness of post-stroke rehabilitation.

Conditions

Left-Hemisphere Stroke

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Subacute Stroke Sample

Participants with first-ever left-brain stroke, \< 4 weeks post stroke, age \>18 years, right-handed, fluent and literate in English prior to stroke, no prior neurological disorders or clinical stroke event, \<4 weeks post-stroke; able to undergo an MRI and complete study tasks, and presence of reading deficits.

Perfusion functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (perfusion fMRI)

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The goal of this test is to measure brain activity during subacute and chronic post-stroke period using a widely available non-invasive neuroimaging tool - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Because fMRI relies in part on cerebral blood flow, which is altered in stroke, measuring longitudinal changes in neural activity with fMRI requires that we control for concomitant changes in blood circulation. To do this, we will employ a novel dual-echo perfusion fMRI sequence, which will allow us to separately estimate neural and vascular contributions to fMRI.

Chronic Stroke Sample

The same group of participants examined in the chronic post-stroke period (\>3 months post-stroke)

Perfusion functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (perfusion fMRI)

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The goal of this test is to measure brain activity during subacute and chronic post-stroke period using a widely available non-invasive neuroimaging tool - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Because fMRI relies in part on cerebral blood flow, which is altered in stroke, measuring longitudinal changes in neural activity with fMRI requires that we control for concomitant changes in blood circulation. To do this, we will employ a novel dual-echo perfusion fMRI sequence, which will allow us to separately estimate neural and vascular contributions to fMRI.

Interventions

Perfusion functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (perfusion fMRI)

The goal of this test is to measure brain activity during subacute and chronic post-stroke period using a widely available non-invasive neuroimaging tool - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Because fMRI relies in part on cerebral blood flow, which is altered in stroke, measuring longitudinal changes in neural activity with fMRI requires that we control for concomitant changes in blood circulation. To do this, we will employ a novel dual-echo perfusion fMRI sequence, which will allow us to separately estimate neural and vascular contributions to fMRI.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age >18 years
• right-handed
• fluent and literate in English prior to stroke
• no prior neurological disorders or clinical stroke event
• <4 weeks post-stroke
• ability to undergo an MRI and complete study tasks
• presence of reading deficits

Exclusion Criteria

• participants with severe aphasia resulting in severe language deficits and inability to consent
• participants with very large lesions resulting in severe cognitive deficits and inability to consent

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 100 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Rutgers University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Kessler Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Olga Boukrina

Research Scientist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Kessler Foundation

West Orange, New Jersey, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R-784-13

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id