Spontaneous Eye Blinking Evaluation for Cognitive Assessment of Individuals With Severe Acquired Brain Injury

Launched by ALFONSO MAGLIACANO · Jun 13, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how eye blinking can help assess attention and consciousness in people who have suffered a severe acquired brain injury (sABI). The goal is to distinguish between those who are in a state of unresponsive wakefulness and those who show some signs of consciousness. By analyzing eye blinks using special equipment, researchers hope to find patterns that can indicate a patient’s cognitive abilities, which will assist doctors in planning better rehabilitation strategies.

To participate in this study, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with severe brain injury for at least 28 days. Participants will undergo a simple test where their brain and eye activity will be recorded while they are resting and during a listening task. It’s important to note that certain conditions, such as recent major surgery on the brain or the use of sedative medication, may exclude someone from joining the trial. The findings from this research could lead to new ways of understanding and treating patients with disorders of consciousness.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • diagnosis of severe acquired brain injury;
• • age≥18 years;
• • time post-injury≥28 days
• • written informed consent by patient or, where necessary, by primary caregiver
• Exclusion criteria will be:
• • large craniectomy interfering with EEG recording;
• • unstable clinical conditions;
• • presence of ophthalmic disorders, or central or peripheral impairments in eyelid motility on clinical evaluation;
• • administration of sedative medication in the previous 24h;
• • previous history of neurological or psychiatric diseases