Clinical Trial: Microstructural Changes in the Brain During Recovery After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Microstructural Changes in the Brain During Recovery After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Brief Summary: This study examines the possible microstructural changes in the brain during recovery after mTBI using diffusion MRI.

Detailed Summary:

This study is embedded in a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02337101) from which the subjects are recruited and will separately examine the possible microstructural changes in the brain during recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in subjects with ongoing symptoms more than 2 month after mTBI in both groups from the RCT.

Several biomarkers and brain areas has been investigated as possible sites of injury after mTBI. The nature of the diffuse chronic post-concussion symptoms (PCS) makes corpus callosum (CC), thalamus (THA) and hippocampus (HIP) interesting because of their central position and connection to widespread motor, sensory and cognitive processes and other brain areas. In most prior studies conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has failed to detect pathology especially in the chronic phase after mTBI. Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) and Diffusional Tensor Imaging (DTI) are more sensitive to microstructural changes and might serve as biomarkers in the brain after mTBI.

We hypothesized that a change in symptoms (as measured by cognitive performance and self reported symptoms) will correlate with a change in microstructural changes (as measured with DKI) in thalamus, corpus callosum and hippocampus from baseline 2-6 month after mTBI to follow up 6 month after.

Separate correlations will also be made for both treatment and control group within the cohort.


Sponsor: University of Aarhus

Current Primary Outcome: Microstructural changes in the thalamus, corpus callosum and hippocampus between baseline and follow up, as measured by Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) [ Time Frame: Baseline 2-6 month after mTBI with follow up 6 month after ]

MRI measurement


Original Primary Outcome: Microstructural changes in the thalamus, corpus callosum and hippocampus, as measured by Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) [ Time Frame: 3 and 9 month after mTBI ]

MRI measurement


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Microstructural changes in the thalamus, corpus callosum and hippocampus from baseline to follow up, as measured by Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [ Time Frame: Baseline 2-6 month after mTBI with follow up 6 month after ]
    MRI measurement
  • Change in post-concussion symptoms from baseline to follow up, as measured by Rivermead post-concussion questionnaire (RPQ) and headache (VAS scale) [ Time Frame: Baseline 2-6 month after mTBI with follow up 6 month after ]
    Symptom score
  • Change in Cognitive performance from baseline to follow up, as measured by executive function, verbal and visual memory, processing speed, working memory, Visuospatial perception and construction [ Time Frame: Baseline 2-6 month after mTBI with follow up 6 month after ]
    Cognitive test battery


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Post concussion symptoms, as measured by Rivermead post-concussion questionnaire (RPQ) [ Time Frame: 3 and 9 month after mTBI ]
    Symptom score
  • Microstructural changes in the thalamus, corpus callosum and hippocampus, as measured by Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [ Time Frame: 3 and 9 month after mTBI ]
    MRI measurement
  • Cognitive performance as measured by executive function, verbal and visual memory, processing speed, working memory, Visuospatial perception and construction [ Time Frame: 3 and 9 month after mTBI ]
    Cognitive test battery


Information By: University of Aarhus

Dates:
Date Received: January 19, 2015
Date Started: January 2015
Date Completion: August 2017
Last Updated: October 25, 2016
Last Verified: October 2016