Longitudinal Assessment of Neurological Recovery in Patients Following Nitrous Oxide Abuse

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying neurological recovery in patients who have experienced nerve damage caused by nitrous oxide (NOS) abuse. Nitrous oxide is a commonly used recreational drug, especially among young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK. It can inactivate vitamin B12, which is essential for nerve health, leading to symptoms like tingling, weakness, and coordination problems. This study aims to better understand the severity and recovery from these nerve problems by following patients over 12 months in a prospective way, overcoming earlier studies' limitations related to short follow-up and small participant numbers. Participants will be recruited from hospitals, including neurology units and emergency departments, where they have been diagnosed with NOS-induced neurological damage by a neurologist. The study does not involve any treatment interventions but follows patients remotely through five scheduled assessments over 12 months. Data collected include neurological tests like finger tapping and cognitive function tasks, health questionnaires, and step counts. Initial hospital data such as MRI scans and blood tests will also be reviewed when available. The study uses a special platform to send participants links via text message for completing assessments remotely. Participants will be involved in five remote visits at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, completing various questionnaires and tasks to monitor neurological recovery. The research team will track completed visits and send reminders as needed. A nested qualitative sub-study will interview some participants about their experiences with NOS, mental health, and treatment access. The main outcome measured is improvement in the finger tapping task over 12 months, along with cognitive function, physical activity, and neuropathy-related scales.

Neurological Recovery Following NOS-SACD