Evaluation of Brain MRI Changes in Cerebral Palsy Patients

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Diplegia, Spastic Quadriplegia, Spastic Hemiplegia

In brief

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by sensorimotor impairment that arises during early childhood defined as a static insult to the developing brain. A key part of the definition for CP is a non-progressive brain injury; however, as individuals with CP age, a functional decline greater than neurotypical individuals is often present. The investigators are doing this research study to improve understanding of whether there is brain and spinal cord atrophy over time that could indicate neurodegeneration. To do this, the investigators will partner with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network to obtain brain and spinal cord MRIs from people with CP across the United States. The investigators will perform analyses on multiple longitudinal MR images of the brain and spinal cord obtained from adults with CP. Putative changes will be related with changes in function across time. This will be a single-center study that will compare retrospective clinical and imaging data with similar prospective data. The objective is to find out if people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience changes in the structures of their brain over time. A key part of the CP definition is that it is a non-progressive brain injury. However, as people with CP age, their function often deteriorates. This study seeks to determine whether changes in the brain structure may result in function changes, as they do in other types of brain injuries. The investigators are doing this research study to improve understanding of whether there is brain and spinal cord atrophy over time that could indicate neurodegeneration. To do this, the investigators will partner with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network to obtain brain and spinal cord MRIs from people with CP across the United States, as well as locally. The investigators will perform analyses on multiple longitudinal MR images of the brain and spinal cord obtained from adults with CP. Putative changes will be related with changes in function across time.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07433647
Run by: Columbia University
People needed: 30
Starts: 2023-06-20
Expected to finish: 2029-07-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-05-13

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Have multiple MRI scans of brain and/or spinal cord spaced at least 24 months apart
Between 18-80 years of age with at least one MRI scan after the age of 18
No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury other than cerebral palsy causing brain degeneration
Inclusion in CPRN registry
diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
>18 years of age
Have received at least one past brain MRI scan as part of standard care (patients who have two or more brain MRI scans can be included in the retrospective arm only)

You may not qualify if…

History of more than one seizure in lifetime
History of known degenerative genetic disorder
History of brain tumor, abscess, or multiple sclerosis
History of moderate or severe head trauma
History of metal implants in head

Where it is running

Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, Columbia University — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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