Actively Recruiting
Molecular Neuroimaging of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Dementias
Led by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Updated on 2025-03-05
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
678 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Neuroinflammation is increasingly implicated as a potential critical pathogenic mechanism in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. This study will use hybrid PET/MRI imaging to evaluate neuroinflammation and its relationship to cerebral perfusion in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Patients with FTD will be recruited from the Cognitive Neurology and Aging Brain clinics at Parkwood Institute and will undergo neurocognitive assessment and MRI/PET using the PET ligand FEPPA which binds to activated microglia, a marker of neuroinflammation. Correlations will be conducted to determine whether abnormal neuroinflammation is present in Frontotemporal dementia and whether differential patterns of neuroinflammation are present in different FTD clinical and molecular subtypes, and to determine the relationship between neuroinflammation, cerebral perfusion using arterial spin labeling MRI imaging techniques, and indices of brain structure including volumetric and white matter analysis.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Molecular Neuroimaging of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Dementias
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Patients diagnosed with probable Frontotemporal Dementia or neurologically healthy controls with no history of neurological problems
- A study partner available who has frequent contact and can attend all clinic visits
- Adequate visual and auditory ability for neuropsychological testing
- Good general health without diseases expected to interfere with the study
- Not pregnant, lactating, and either two years post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or using effective family planning
- Willingness to participate in a 12-month longitudinal imaging study
- Willingness and no medical contraindications to undergo MRI (3Tesla) and PET scans with FEPPA ligand
You will not qualify if you...
- Significant neurologic disease other than suspected Frontotemporal Dementia that better explains symptoms
- MRI scans showing infection, infarction, or other focal brain lesions; multiple lacunes excluded
- Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments, or foreign objects preventing MRI
- Major depression or bipolar disorder within the past year; recent psychotic features, agitation, or behavioral problems that affect protocol compliance
- History of schizophrenia
- Significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition affecting protocol compliance
- Abnormal B12 or thyroid function interfering with the study
- Use of investigational agents within one month prior to entry and during trial
- Radiation exposure exceeding Health Canada limits for participation
- For controls undergoing arterial line placement: conditions such as absent pulse, Buerger disease, burns, inadequate circulation, Raynaud syndrome, anticoagulation therapy, atherosclerosis, coagulopathy, infection, prior surgery, or synthetic vascular grafts
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Parkwood Institute
London, Ontario, Canada, N6C 0A7
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
S Jesso, BA
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Number of Arms
1
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