Imaging Post-Stroke Recovery: Using MEG to Evaluate Cognition

Launched by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Dec 3, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Imaging Post-Stroke Recovery: Using MEG to Evaluate Cognition," is studying how people recover from minor strokes. Researchers want to understand why some stroke survivors experience problems with attention, concentration, and processing information, even if their stroke wasn't very severe. They believe that even a small stroke can disrupt the brain's networks that help with thinking and memory. To investigate this, they will use a special imaging technique called magnetoencephalography (MEG) to observe brain activity in stroke patients at 1 month and 6 months after their stroke, and compare this with healthy individuals of similar ages.

To participate, you need to be an adult who has had a minor ischemic stroke and is able to communicate in English. You should also be functionally independent and able to travel to the University of Maryland for two visits. Participants will undergo tests to evaluate their cognitive abilities and brain activity. The study is currently recruiting up to 40 stroke patients and 15 healthy controls, and there is an additional follow-up assessment at 12 months. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the recovery process after a stroke, which could help improve support and treatment for future patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Adults (≥18 years) admitted to Bayview Medical Center Neurology.
• • 2. Evidence of acute ischemic stroke (CT or MRI)- lacunar stroke or branch occlusion (M3/A3/P3 or smaller) OR NIHSS ≤ 8 on admission.
• • 3. Competent speaker of English (by self or family report) prior to stroke.
• • 4. Return for follow-up 4-6 weeks post event (+/- 4 wks).
• • 5. Cognitive deficits present on initial testing.\*\* unique to MEG study
• • 6. Willing to travel to the University of Maryland twice for MEG.\*\* unique to MEG study
• • 7. Fully independent functionally and able to travel to the University of Maryland unassisted.\*\* unique to MEG study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Primary intracerebral hemorrhage- as evidenced by blood on head CT or MRI.
• • 2. Previous neurological disease (e.g., dementia, multiple sclerosis, prior symptomatic stroke). Incidental asymptomatic lacunar strokes found on imaging will not be excluded as prior disease.
• • 3. Uncorrected hearing or visual loss.
• • 4. Large vessel occlusion.
• • 5. Presence of any of the following that would lead to significant artifact on MEG: cardiac pacemaker, intracranial clips, metal implants, or external clips within 10mm of the head, metal in the eyes.\*\* unique to MEG study
• • 6. Claustrophobia, obesity, and/or any other reason leading to difficulty staying in the MEG for up to 1 hour.\*\* unique to MEG study
• • 7. For controls- clinical history of stroke or other neurological dysfunction (seizure, multiple sclerosis, etc.); psychiatric disease