MRI Brain (Volumetry, fMRI & MRS) in Autism

NCT ID: NCT05758220

Last Updated: 2023-03-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Total Enrollment: 25 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-30

Brief Summary

To reach a feasible method for diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) outcome measures:

1. Primary (main):

Measurement of various brain structures, including the total brain volume, the volumes of specific brain regions (such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum), and the thickness of the cortex.

Detection of other concurrent lesions, e.g. tuberous sclerosis

2. Secondary (subsidiary):

levels of various neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and GABA, and other metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), in specific regions of the brain Assessing neural activity and connectivity in the brain in the resting state

Detailed Description

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder (or collection of related disorders) of multifactorial etiology, and with a great range in severity of symptoms. ASD affects approximately 1 in 166 children and is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls. Core features of individuals with autism include 1) impairment in reciprocal social interactions; 2) verbal and nonverbal communication deficits; 3) repetitive and ritualized behaviors; and 4) a narrow range of interests. Approximately 30% of individuals with ASD manifest some degree of mental retardation.

Magnetic-resonance (MR) examination allows researchers and clinicians to noninvasively examine brain anatomy in vivo. Structural MR examination is widely used to investigate brain morphology because of its high contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution, and because it entails no radiation exposure; the last feature is particularly important for children and adolescents.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has proven to be a useful tool to investigate aberrant neurobiological function in ASDs because of its excellent contrast properties, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution. fMRI uses specialized pulse sequences to localize metabolic correlates of neural activity linked to relevant neurocognitive processes

Investigating brain network activity during the resting state has emerged as a new method that eliminates the caveats of task-based fMRI studies

The fMRI signal is measured during the resting state and the data is analyzed based on a connectivity approach between subdivisions. To date, brain network activity during the resting state has been investigated in subjects with ASD and typical development in numerous studies. Overall, intrinsic connectivity between subdivisions of the brain is altered in patients with ASD compared to controls.

MRS's finding is that gamma oscillations are reduced in ASD patients. Gamma oscillations are generated by GABAergic neurons and are involved in sensory binding and higher cognitive functions.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

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

Interventions

MRI

Structural MRI volumetry, resting functional MRI \& MR spectroscopy

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children clinically diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Males and Females.
• Children with an IQ of more than 70%

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe forms of ASD.
• Children with IQ less than 70%.
• Children with claustrophobia.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 3 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Assiut University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Mohamed AbuDeif Sayed

Radio-Diagnosis & Interventional Radiology Specialist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Mohamed ab AbdelTawab, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Assiut University

Central Contacts

Mohamed Ab Sayed, MSc

Role: CONTACT

dr.abudeif@gmail.com

00201008253457

Mohamed ab AbdelTawab, MD

Role: CONTACT

dr.m.tawab@gmail.com

01009319309

References

Chakrabarti S, Fombonne E. Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children. JAMA. 2001 Jun 27;285(24):3093-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.285.24.3093.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 11427137 (View on PubMed)

Eliez S, Reiss AL. MRI neuroimaging of childhood psychiatric disorders: a selective review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2000 Sep;41(6):679-94.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 11039681 (View on PubMed)

Chao HT, Chen H, Samaco RC, Xue M, Chahrour M, Yoo J, Neul JL, Gong S, Lu HC, Heintz N, Ekker M, Rubenstein JL, Noebels JL, Rosenmund C, Zoghbi HY. Dysfunction in GABA signalling mediates autism-like stereotypies and Rett syndrome phenotypes. Nature. 2010 Nov 11;468(7321):263-9. doi: 10.1038/nature09582.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 21068835 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

MRI Brain in Autism

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id