Advanced MRI Study of Brain Development and Motor Function in Infants at Risk for Cerebral Palsy and Typically Developing Children During Natural Sleep

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying early brain development in infants at risk for cerebral palsy CP and typically developing infants aged 3 to 24 months. The study aims to improve early diagnosis of CP by using advanced magnetic resonance imaging MRI techniques during natural sleep without sedation. It also seeks to understand how early brain development relates to motor function and development, providing important information for early intervention strategies. The study involves advanced MRI scans including diffusion-weighted imaging, high-resolution structural MRI, and MR spectroscopy, performed three times between 3 months and 2 years of age. Two groups participate infants at high risk for CP recruited from the CP-EDIT trial and typically developing infants recruited specifically for this study. High-risk infants undergo MRI scans and parent questionnaires, while typically developing infants also receive neurological, motor, and cognitive assessments. Participants will attend three rounds of assessments at approximately 3-6 months, 12 months, and 24 months of age. Each visit includes MRI scans and various motor and cognitive tests such as Hand Assessments for Infants, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and Bayley Scales of Infant Development, along with parent-reported questionnaires. Researchers will measure brain structure, connectivity, myelination, and metabolic profiles over time to identify early brain changes related to motor development and function. Safety monitoring includes minimizing infant discomfort with earplugs and headphones during MRI.

Neuroimaging of Babies During Natural Sleep to Assess Typical Development and Cerebral Palsy