Neurologic Disorder

Researchers are investigating how balance and walking abilities relate to detailed movement measurements in people with Multiple Sclerosis MS. This observational study focuses on understanding the connection between clinical tests of function and objective biomechanical data. The goal is to identify which movement characteristics best reflect balance, gait, and physical performance challenges faced by individuals with MS. Participants will attend a single laboratory session where they undergo biomechanical analysis using the Vicon motion capture system. They will complete functional assessments of balance, gait, and physical performance, as well as questionnaires about fear of falling and fatigue. Spasticity in the lower limbs will also be assessed during this visit. During the session, participants will perform tests such as the mini-BESTest for balance, Functional Gait Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, and a 2-minute walk test. Questionnaires like the Fall Efficacy Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale will be completed. Researchers will analyze these collected data to explore how biomechanical and functional measures relate, aiming to improve assessment tools for MS rehabilitation.

Researchers are studying patients who have had an acute ischemic stroke affecting the basal ganglia and were treated with mechanical thrombectomy. The study aims to understand how often and in what ways cognitive, motor, and sleep problems occur after this treatment. The main focus is on defining these possible dysfunctions in the short and long term after stroke treatment. The study involves patients who have undergone mechanical thrombectomy for stroke in the proximal middle cerebral artery. Participants will be evaluated using tests for cognitive function, movement abilities, and sleep disorders. Specifically, sleep will be studied through polysomnographic examinations. Assessments occur in the acute phase soon after treatment and continue through long-term follow-up. Participants will undergo testing for cognitive, motor, and sleep function within 72 hours after their stroke treatment and at later points to monitor changes over time. The primary outcome is the presence of post-stroke cognitive dysfunction measured shortly after treatment. The research team will closely observe clinical outcomes related to movement and sleep as well. The study is sponsored by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS and involves adult participants starting from age 18.

This observational study investigates how self-compassion and self-efficacy relate to symptom severity, functional ability, and quality of life in adults diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. The research aims to better understand these psychological factors in people living with Parkinsons disease stages 1 to 3, within an age range of 40 to 85 years. Participants will complete a set of self-report questionnaires during one session to assess their levels of self-compassion, self-efficacy, symptom severity, functional status, and quality of life. No therapeutic treatments or interventions are provided. The study collects data at a single time point to analyze associations among these outcomes. During the study visit, participants will be assessed with various scales and tests including the Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease scale, Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Six-Minute Walk test, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire-39. These assessments help evaluate physical function, symptoms, and quality of life. The study is led by Acibadem University and participation involves completing questionnaires and physical tests in one session.

Researchers are evaluating a new, affordable way to monitor people with multiple sclerosis MS using patient-recorded selfie videos. This study aims to see if videos collected remotely on a mobile phone can provide the same walking and speech information as traditional in-person visits. The goal is to create a low-burden, patient-centered method that can be used widely and easily by diverse people with MS. Participants will record five short selfie videos at home during baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. They will also attend in-person visits at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months for additional data collection. These videos capture daily activities like walking and talking, using the participants own device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer without special software. During the study, participants will undergo several assessments including video uploads and in-person evaluations lasting about 15 minutes for video collection and one hour for in-person visits. Researchers will measure how well video data matches standard MS functional tests, the usability of the video method, and its ability to detect subtle changes over time. The study lasts one year and aims to improve remote monitoring for people living with MS.

Researchers are conducting a large-scale observational study called the Italian Migraine Registry I-GRAINE-New to better understand migraine disorders. The study focuses on adults with episodic or chronic migraine who have recently visited specialized migraine centers. It aims to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of migraine types, the impact on daily life, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource use in Italy. This study involves enrolling patients consecutively at multiple centers, where they undergo a detailed clinical and neurological examination at baseline. Follow-up data will be collected during routine clinic visits over an average of two years to observe the natural history and care pathways of migraine once patients start specialist treatment. Participants will be assessed through clinical exams and structured interviews, including validated scales like MIDAS and HIT-6, to measure disability and disease influence. The study measures the size and awareness of the migraine problem in headache centers and tracks patients treatment and healthcare use. Each patients participation lasts about 24 months from their initial visit to the migraine center.

The 100-Year Human Aging Study is a long-term observational research project enrolling adult participants to undergo detailed multi-system health screenings and follow them throughout their lives until death. The study aims to identify which health measurements taken at enrollment and repeatedly over time can predict overall mortality, cause-specific death, serious diseases, and functional disability. It addresses the current lack of validated longevity measures by generating data on how various physiological and cognitive functions relate to aging outcomes. Participants undergo a comprehensive clinical screening that includes tests of cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, mobility, neurocognitive performance, sensory functions, and metabolic health. Structural imaging assessments like DEXA scans, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, retinal photography, and vascular ultrasound are performed. Laboratory tests and detailed medical, social, and environmental histories are also collected. The study allows participation from single tests up to a full two-visit screening, with repeat testing encouraged to track health changes over time. Throughout the study, participants receive individualized reports with investigational estimates of biological age and predicted mortality risks, which are being evaluated against actual health outcomes. Researchers collect data continuously on mortality, disease occurrence, disability, and health behavior changes. The study involves ongoing follow-up with periodic assessments and aims to preserve all collected data for future analyses, with participant involvement potentially spanning their entire lifespan.

Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in about 8 percent of pregnancies in Canada and is linked to many health challenges, especially when it happens before 29 weeks. At this early stage, infants often face breathing difficulties and may require resuscitation. This trial compares resuscitation using either low 30% or high 60% oxygen levels to determine which approach results in better survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes at around 24 months of age. The study uses a cluster randomized crossover design where hospitals alternate between starting resuscitation with 30% or 60% oxygen for groups of 30 infants. Resuscitation includes standard care steps like lung expansion and ventilation support as needed. Oxygen is initially given at the assigned concentration for the first 5 minutes, then adjusted based on the infants oxygen saturation levels and heart rate over the next 5 minutes to maintain target saturation ranges. This approach aims to balance risks of too much or too little oxygen. Participants are infants born between 23 and 28 weeks gestation who receive full resuscitation at participating centers. During the study, infants have oxygen saturation monitored continuously, and adjustments to oxygen concentration are made carefully. Researchers will evaluate survival and major neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months corrected age, along with several safety and health measures during the neonatal intensive care stay. The trial is expected to provide important evidence to guide oxygen use during resuscitation of extremely preterm infants.

This research aims to compare a new spinal cord imaging technique called the 3D OPTIMIZED WMN MPRAGE sequence with conventional MRI sequences for people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a common inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system, often causing spinal cord damage that leads to symptoms like sensory loss, pain, weakness, and bladder or bowel problems. Imaging the spinal cord is important for diagnosis and prognosis, but current methods have limitations in detecting lesions accurately. The study involves scanning patients at the cervical and thoracic levels of the spinal cord using both conventional MRI sequences including 2D sagittal T2 FSE, 2D sagittal STIR, 2D sagittal PSIR, and 3D MPRAGE and the new 3D OPTIMIZED WMN MPRAGE sequence. At the cervical level, the new sequence will be acquired in sagittal and axial views, while at the thoracic level it will be acquired sagittally. This comparison will help assess whether the new sequence provides better detection of spinal cord lesions. Participants will undergo MRI scans at one visit where researchers will evaluate the number and volume of lesions, presence of artifacts, contrast quality, and the relation of lesions to the patients disability. The study will also measure sensitivity, positive predictive value, and reproducibility of the new imaging method. The total participation time corresponds to the imaging session on day one, with no long-term follow-up reported.

This research focuses on elderly patients hospitalized in Continuing and Rehabilitation Care Units, many of whom suffer from neurodegenerative diseases and need personalized rehabilitation care. The study evaluates the use of ergonomic cutlery handles tailored to patients hand grip ability, aiming to improve their autonomy during meals and potentially reduce malnutrition risks. These custom handles are made using 3D printing technology, offering a lightweight and inexpensive alternative to standard adapted cutlery. Participants will start with a functional and joint assessment of their hand to determine the optimal diameter for the cutlery handles 25, 30, 35, or 40 mm. Their autonomy in eating and the amount of food consumed will be measured at three lunch times before using the adapted handles Day 0, the first lunch using the handles Day 1, and after three days of use Day 3. Ergotherapists will also assess upper limb compensations during meals without and with the technical aid. Throughout the study, participants autonomy in eating is evaluated using the Katz scale, with additional assessments by ergotherapists and dieticians. The study tracks changes in food intake and physical compensations over three days, ending after the Day 3 assessments. The main outcome measured is patients food autonomy at Day 1, with secondary outcomes including autonomy and food intake at Day 3 and upper limb compensations. Participation lasts only through the initial assessment and the three-day intervention period.

Researchers are investigating the effects of deep brain stimulation DBS on brain function in patients with various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinsons disease, essential tremor, dystonia, depression, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and Alzheimers disease. This prospective cohort study aims to use advanced MRI techniques, particularly functional MRI fMRI, to better understand how DBS influences brain circuits and to explore whether fMRI can aid clinical practice in managing DBS therapy. Participants in this study include patients who will undergo or have already undergone DBS electrode placement. The study involves performing structural MRI scans using 1.5 Tesla or 3 Tesla machines as well as resting state and task-based fMRI scans. DBS patients will be scanned while their devices are programmed at different stimulation settings, including switched off and switched on states. The fMRI results will be shared with clinicians to help guide DBS programming decisions. During the study, participants will have multiple brain scans from three months before DBS implantation to one year after. Researchers will assess brain areas activated by DBS, examine structural and functional brain connectivity through MRI, and monitor clinical outcomes. The study includes regular evaluations to observe how DBS impacts brain function over time, aiming to improve post-operative follow-up and optimize treatment for these patients.