Actively Recruiting
Multimodal Assessment for Predicting Specific Pathological Substrate in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Led by University Health Network, Toronto · Updated on 2025-03-30
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating the best diagnostic methods for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a group of brain disorders including behavioral variant FTD, corticobasal syndrome, and others. The study aims to improve clinical and pathological diagnosis accuracy by evaluating various tests and understanding disease mechanisms. This observational study is sponsored by University Health Network, Toronto, and includes healthy controls for comparison. Participants will undergo a range of evaluations including brain imaging with MRI and PET scans, skin biopsies, blood and cerebrospinal fluid sample collection, cognitive testing, and assessments of daily functioning. The study also involves brain autopsies when possible to confirm findings. These procedures are designed to capture structural and functional brain differences among FTLD subtypes. During the study, participants will have one-time visits for imaging and will be followed for up to five years to monitor changes. Researchers will assess brain structure and function using MRI and PET scans as primary outcome measures. The study includes healthy volunteers and requires participants to have a study partner to help evaluate daily functioning. Language ability and neurological health are evaluated to ensure suitability for testing.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Diagnosing Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participant must have a reliable study partner who can provide an independent evaluation of functioning.
- Able to read, understand and speak English for neuropsychological testing.
- Meet one of these diagnostic criteria: probable behavioral variant FTD; MRI-supported non-fluent variant PPA; MRI-supported semantic variant PPA with negative T807; probable corticobasal syndrome; progressive supranuclear palsy based on NINDS-SPSP; frontotemporal dementia with motor neuron disease.
- Control subjects must have a normal neurological exam, a Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes equal to 0, and a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 28 or higher.
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients with clinical, imaging, or cerebrospinal fluid profiles consistent with Alzheimer's disease.
- History of traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, stroke, or other neurological or psychiatric disorders explaining symptoms.
- Pregnant women (premenopausal women must consent to pregnancy testing prior to scans).
- Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments, or foreign objects in eyes, skin, or body.
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - One time visit through study completion of 5 years
Participants undergo brain imaging, skin biopsy, body fluid sampling, neuropsychological testing, and assessments of everyday functioning to aid diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Up to 5 years
Participants are observed over time to monitor disease progression and outcomes, including possible brain autopsy after death.
Visits as needed for assessments during the study period
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S8
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Cristina Salvo, BSc, MD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
7
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