Impact of Stress on Brain Energy Metabolism

NCT ID: NCT06243783

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

68 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-01

Study Completion Date

2028-02-29

Brief Summary

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Background: Stress plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders. However, individual differences in the vulnerability to acute and repeated stress are not well understood.

Aim: This work aims to investigate individual differences in glucose metabolism and directional connectivity regulating the neuronal stress response.

Design: 68 healthy volunteers will undergo two simultaneous PET/MRI measurements one week apart. Participants will complete the Montreal Imaging Stress Test during each measurement and in-between. Effects of stress on cognitive performance will be assessed using the n-back working memory task. Individual cortisol levels will be acquired to identify stress (non)responders as well as (non)habituators.

Implications: This work will characterize differences between stress responders vs. non-responders and stress habituators vs. non-habituators in terms of energy metabolism and network connectivity. This individual difference in the stress response may represent an important cornerstone for future evaluation of patients with mental disorders.

Detailed Description

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Methodological details: Each participant will undergo two PET/MRI scans. Imaging will include functional PET and as well as structural and functional MRI. Stress-specific glucose metabolism will be quantified with the radioligand \[18F\]FDG. Functional connectivity will be combined with glucose metabolism to assess directional connectivity. Based on previous literature, changes are expected to occur in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Conditions

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Stress

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Stress

Montreal Imaging Stress Test during each PET/MRI measurement and in-between

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Montreal Imaging Stress Test

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

In the Montreal Imaging Stress Test, participants are required to solve basic mathematical tasks, but the allowed reaction time is set lower than their average.

Interventions

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Montreal Imaging Stress Test

In the Montreal Imaging Stress Test, participants are required to solve basic mathematical tasks, but the allowed reaction time is set lower than their average.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18-40 years
* right-handedness
* willingness and competence to sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

* History of or current physical, neurological or psychiatric disorder
* History of or current substance abuse or medication, including antipsychotic, antidepressant and antianxiety agents
* Pregnancy of current breast-feeding
* Contraindications for MRI-scanning (e.g., metal implants, steel grafts, etc.), including dental implants causing signal artifacts
* For subjects participating in earlier studies using ionizing radiation, the total radiation exposure of 30 mSv over the last 10 years must not be exceeded, as specified in the Austrian legislation on radiation protection Accordingly, body weight \> 105 kg is an exclusion criterion.
* Failure to comply with the study protocol or to follow the instructions of the investigating team.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Konstanz

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Rupert Lanzenberger

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Rupert Lanzenberger

Prof. PD MD, Head Neuroimaging Labs

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Andreas Hahn, Assoc.Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Psychiatry and Psychtherapy, Medical University of Vienna

Locations

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Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, , Austria

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Austria

Central Contacts

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Andreas Hahn, Assoc.Prof.

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +43140400

Email: [email protected]

Rupert Lanzenberger, Prof.

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +43140400

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Rupert Lanzenberger, Prof

Role: primary

Related Links

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https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/neuroimaging/

Neuroimaging Labs, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna

Other Identifiers

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PSY-NIL-0012

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id