Actively Recruiting
White Matter Distortion and Dementia Biomarkers in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
Led by Imperial College London · Updated on 2026-03-27
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
201 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
I
Imperial College London
Lead Sponsor
M
Medical Research Council
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a progressive condition of the elderly that results in severe disability. iNPH can dramatically respond to Cerebral spinal fluid(CSF)-shunting where excess ventricular fluid is diverted from the brain. Not all patients with iNPH respond to CSF-shunting however. The reasons for this are uncertain. Aim 1: To understand if specific nerve pathways (white matter tracts) that are near ventricles are damaged in patients that respond to shunting as opposed to those that do not. Aim 2: Can we explain shunt non-responsiveness by screening for dementia like illnesses (neurodegeneration) using a large array of methods. Aim 3: To understand whether wearable activity and bed sleep monitors are palatable in a NPH population and to understand if these metrics relate to quality of life. Aim 4: To see whether self-administered digital cognitive assessments can measure improvements pre and post surgery.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
White Matter Distortion and Dementia Biomarkers in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adult patients older than 60 years
- Have gait apraxia (difficulty walking)
- May have cognitive impairment or not
- Experience urinary dysfunction
- Diagnosed with communicating hydrocephalus
- Healthy carers, members of the public, or staff of Imperial College/ICHT
- Diagnosed with non-NPH dementias such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia
- Have asymptomatic hydrocephalus
You will not qualify if you...
- Have asymptomatic hydrocephalus (for Group 1 patients)
- Have high pressure hydrocephalus
- Serious head injury within 5 years or clear secondary cause like brain infection
- History of childhood gait disturbance
- Clear alternative explanation for symptoms like Parkinson's disease or peripheral neuropathy
- Too frail for shunt surgery
- Medically unstable (e.g., active angina, respiratory disease, recurrent delirium, active epilepsy)
- Unable to tolerate MRI brain imaging
- Unable to have a lumbar puncture
- Immobile
- Unable to attend hospital for study visits
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
London, United Kingdom, W6 8RF
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Chris Carswell
CONTACT
H
Harvey G Burns
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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