EEG and TMS-based Biomarkers of ALS, MS and FTD

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

PROCEDURE

128 electrode electroencephalography (EEG)

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)

PROCEDURE

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Motor Neurone Disease Association, UK

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Irish Research Council, IE

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Health Research Board, IE

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Research Motor Neurone, IE

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Thierry Latran Foundation, FR

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• ALS Association, USA

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Dublin, Trinity College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Orla Hardiman, BSc MB BCh BAO MD FRCPI FAAN · Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-09-30

Primary Completion

2023-02-28

Completion

2023-04-30

Countries

• Ireland

Study Locations