Investigating Complex Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) · Jul 20, 2017

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on understanding complex neurodegenerative disorders, particularly those related to conditions like Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Researchers are investigating whether these disorders share similar causes or risk factors, especially those related to certain proteins that can build up in brain cells. The goal is to evaluate individuals who have issues with movement or thinking to see if they can participate in further studies that may help us learn more about these diseases.

If you're an adult aged 18 or older and have been diagnosed with FTD, ALS, or related disorders, you might be eligible to participate. The process involves several tests and assessments over a few days, including checking your medical history, performing movement and memory tests, and taking blood samples. Some tests might involve imaging techniques like MRI, which takes pictures of your brain and body. Participation in this study could help researchers find better ways to understand and treat these challenging conditions, and even if you’re not eligible, you may still be contacted for future research opportunities.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients will be included if they
• • Are age 18 or older
• • Have been given a diagnosis by a neurologist of frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, motor neuron disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, corticobasal neurodegenerative disorder OR
• • Carry a mutation in a gene that causes familial ALS or FTD
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients will be excluded if they
• • Have other major neurological or medical diseases that may cause progressive weakness or cognitive dysfunction, such as structural brain or spinal cord disease, metabolic diseases, paraneoplastic syndromes, infectious diseases, peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy or other significant neurological abnormalities.
• • Have an unstable medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, makes participation unsafe
• • Require daytime ventilator support at the time of study entry
• • Are unable to travel to NIH
• • Patients with pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, dental implants, aneurysm clips (metal clips on the wall of a large artery), metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves, and cochlear implants), permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pumps, or shrapnel fragments, metal fragments in the eye) will not be excluded but will not undergo magnetic resonance imaging.
• • Patients with tattoos above the neck or permanent make up will be excluded from undergoing 7T MRI.