Measuring the Neurological Benefits of Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy With MRI
About this trial
This study uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging to image the brain and spinal cord before and after an Intermittent Hypoxia intervention. Acquiring these scans in patients with chronic cervical spinal cord...
Included participants
Traumatic
What’s involved
Type
Details
Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is an emerging, safe technique for facilitating neural plasticity in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), demonstrating significant transient improvements in respiratory function, plantar flexion, locomotor function, and hand dexterity and strength. Although these studies observe some degree of success eliciting plasticity, we lack a framework for systematic optimization of the AIH protocol for individual patients. Better understanding of what physiological mechanisms drive AIH-induced neural plasticity in humans will directly inform the development of AIH as an effective treatment option in chronic SCI. This study applies magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to test how AIH influences vascular and neural properties of the brain and spinal cord. Individuals with SCI and uninjured participants will be recruited to undergo two MRI scan sessions on one day. In between these scan sessions, participants will undergo a single 30-minute session of AIH. In each scan session, functional MRI will assess AIH-induced changes in neural activation patterns during motor tasks (unilateral isometric hand grasping tasks) and vascular reactivity to breath hold tasks (transient hypocapnia to induce vasodilation). Additional structural scans will be acquired to aid in image analysis.
Potential benefits
Main benefits
General health
Additional benefits
Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.
Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder
Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.
Learn more- Recruitment
- Unknown
- Trial start date
- 20 May 2019
- Organisation
- Northwestern University
- Recruitment
- Unknown
- Trial start date
- 20 May 2019
- Organisation
- Northwestern University
About this trial
Included participants
What’s involved
Potential benefits
Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder
Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.
Learn more