The purpose of this observational study is to improve understanding of the biology of why ALS, MS and FTD have different effects on different people and facilitate better measurement of the disease in future drug testing. To do this, brain and spinal cord neural network functionality will be measured over time, in addition to profiling of movement and non-movement symptoms, in large groups of patients, as well as in a population-based sample of the healthy population. Patterns of dysfunction which relate to patients' diagnosis and coinciding and future symptoms which align with categories of patients with similar prognoses will be investigated and their ability to predict incident patients' symptoms in future will be measured.
The aim of this project is to characterize spatiotemporal patterns of central nervous system dysfunction that correlate with clinical features of ALS, MS and FTD, to provide non-invasive electrophysiological measurements that can be used in a clinical setting to inform stratification of patients in clinical trials, and to provide data driven diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and objective clinical trial outcome measures. Such dysfunction will be investigated by recording single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-associated electromyography (EMG) during rest and by recording electroencephalography (EEG) during rest and during cognitive-motor tasks.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
400
128 electrode EEG will be non-invasively recorded from electrodes placed in a montage over the scalp while the participant is resting or performing tasks designed to engage specific cortical motor networks of interest (cognitive, behavioural, motor and sensory)
Single and paired pulse TMS protocol will be delivered while surface bipolar EMG is recorded over hand muscles to interrogate corticospinal tract function and cortical motor network component functions
Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
RECRUITINGDiagnosis-related difference in EEG or TMS measurements
Differences in single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics between those within each patient cohort and controls
Time frame: Baseline recording
Prognosis-related EEG or TMS measurements
Patient cohort single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics which show significant correlation to cognitive, behavioural, motor and/or sensory task performance, to disease duration or to survival time
Time frame: Baseline recording
Diagnosis-related changes in EEG or TMS measurements
Differences in rate of change (slope) across time of single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics between those within each patient cohort relative to controls
Time frame: Baseline to final visit assessed up to 2 years after baseline
Prognosis-related changes in EEG or TMS measurements
Rates of change (slope) across time of patient cohort single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics which show significant correlation to cognitive, behavioural, motor and/or sensory task performance, to disease duration or to survival time
Time frame: Baseline to final visit assessed up to 2 years after baseline
Diagnosis-specific changes in EEG or TMS measurements
Differences in rate of change (slope) across time of single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics between patient cohorts
Time frame: Baseline to final visit assessed up to 2 years after baseline
Diagnosis-specific difference in EEG or TMS measurements
Differences in single or paired pulse TMS measures or time and/or frequency domain EEG characteristics between patient cohorts
Time frame: Baseline recording
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