Actively Recruiting
Brain Networks in Dystonia
Led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Updated on 2025-12-08
141
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
647 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
To date, there is only limited knowledge about the distinct neural abnormalities that lead to the development of different forms of focal dystonia. The goal of this study is to dissect the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this clinical phenomenon using multi-level brain network analysis in patients with focal dystonia.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Brain Networks in Dystonia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Patients with clinically documented focal dystonia
- Unaffected relatives of patients with focal dystonia
- Healthy volunteers without neurological, laryngeal, or psychiatric problems
- Age between 21 and 80 years
- Native English speakers
- Right-handed individuals based on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory
You will not qualify if you...
- Unable to give informed consent
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women until no longer pregnant or breastfeeding; all women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test for imaging
- Past or present neurological problems other than dystonia in patient groups (e.g., stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, ataxias, myopathies, myasthenia gravis, demyelinating diseases, alcoholism, drug dependence)
- Past or present psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia, major or bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Laryngeal problems like vocal fold paralysis, paresis, nodules, polyps, carcinoma, or chronic laryngitis
- Patients not fully symptomatic due to recent botulinum toxin treatment; must be fully symptomatic before study entry
- Patients with other forms of dystonia
- Patients with dystonia symptoms at rest to avoid confounding spasms during scanning
- Use of medications affecting the central nervous system
- History of head, neck, or hand surgeries that changed regional anatomy or innervation
- Presence of tattoos or ferromagnetic objects that cannot be removed for study participation
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kristina Simonyan, MD, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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