Genetic and MRI Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity Predict Aphasia Recovery and Phenotypes

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Patients with stroke frequently suffer from aphasia, a disorder of expressive and/or receptive language, that can lead to serious health consequences, including social isolation, depression, reduced quality of life, and increased caregiver burden. Aphasia recovery varies greatly between individuals, and likely relies upon the capacity for neuroplasticity, both at a systems level of reorganized brain networks and a molecular level of neuronal repair and plasticity. The proposed work will evaluate genetic and neural network biological markers of neuroplasticity associated with variability in aphasia, with a future goal to improve prognostics and identify therapeutic targets to reduce the long-term burdens of aphasia.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 40
Maximum Age: 90
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Ages 40-90

• Right-handed (prior to stroke)

• Proficient English speakers

• History of a single ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory that is lateralized to the left or right (Aim 1) cerebral hemisphere.

• Presence of aphasia (Aims 2-3)

• Capacity to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent

• Acute or subacute stroke at the time of Aim 1 enrollment; Stroke #12 months old (chronic) at the time of Aims 2-3 enrollment

• Medically stable

Locations
United States
Wisconsin
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
RECRUITING
Madison
Contact Information
Primary
Haley Dresang, PhD
hdresang@wisc.edu
(608) 890-0628
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-03-17
Estimated Completion Date: 2029-05-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 90
Treatments
Experimental: Experimental word-learning task for aphasia
The word learning task includes 210 trials across 7 learning blocks (30 trials/block). Each trial features two novel objects (target and foil) on the screen, with an audio recording naming one object. Subjects must quickly and accurately identify the named object. Correct responses are rewarded with a happy face, and incorrect ones with a sad face. The target object's position is counter-balanced, and trial order is randomized for each subject. Short pauses occur every 60 trials to reduce fatigue. After 7 learning blocks, feedback is discontinued, and an immediate test block assesses word-referent recognition. A week later, a second test block, with the same instructions, measures retained learning. Each test block consists of 30 randomized trials without feedback.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Leads: University of Wisconsin, Madison

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov