Enhancing Sensorimotor Processing in Children With Dystonia

Launched by KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · Nov 9, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying ways to improve movement control in children and young people with dystonia, a condition that causes painful muscle spasms and unusual body movements. Researchers believe that the brain's ability to process sensory information may be linked to these movement problems. They want to see if providing feedback about brain activity through a fun cartoon or game can help enhance brain responses during movement tasks. If successful, this could lead to new therapies that use similar approaches for rehabilitation.

To participate, children and young people aged 5 to 25 years with dystonia or dystonic cerebral palsy may be eligible, as long as they have been assessed by a specialist and do not have other neurological issues. The study will take place at Evelina London Children's Hospital and Barts Health Trust, and it will last 2-3 hours, including breaks. There is also an option for home visits to make it easier for families. This research could open new doors for treatment options in the future, so it's an exciting opportunity for those who qualify!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Key inclusion criteria
• Control Group:
• • Age 5 -25 years
• • No known disorder of movement
• • Able to understand and participate in study.
• Primary dystonia group (isolated genetic or idiopathic):
• • Age 5-25 years
• • Clinical dystonia - as confirmed on clinical assessment by consultant paediatric neurologist.
• • Genetic or idiopathic aetiology.
• • No other neurological abnormality.
• • Normal cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• • Able to understand and participate in study.
• Dystonic Cerebral Palsy Group:
• • Age 5-25 years
• • Clinical dystonia/dyskinesia - as confirmed on clinical assessment by consultant paediatric neurologist.
• • Documented history of perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), prematurity \<35 weeks or kernicterus.
• • Predominant dystonia/dyskinesia / Minimal spasticity
• • MRI findings in keeping with acute perinatal HIE, prematurity or kernicterus (including classical pattern of damage to thalami, basal ganglia and peri-rolandic cortex, periventricular leukomalacia or ischaemic parenchymal injury).
• • Able to understand and participate in study.
• • Key exclusion criteria
• Control Group:
• • Age \<5 or \>25 years
• • Any known disorder of movement.
• Primary dystonia group (isolated genetic or idiopathic):
• • Age \< 5 or \>25 years
• • Presence of other neurological abnormality in addition to dystonia.
• • Abnormal cranial MRI.
• Dystonic Cerebral Palsy Group:
• • Age \< 5 or \>25 years
• • No clear history of perinatal HIE, prematurity or kernicterus.
• • Predominant spasticity.
• • MRI scan not compatible with perinatal HIE, prematurity or kernicterus