Brain Blood Flow Studies of Language and Memory

NCT00001288 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 91013491-N-0134
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 303
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a technique used to investigate the functional activity of the brain. The PET technique allows doctors to study the normal processes of the brain (central nervous system) of normal individuals and patients with neurologic illnesses without physical / structural damage to the brain. When a region of the brain is active, it uses more fuel in the form of oxygen and sugar (glucose). As the brain uses more fuel it produces more waste products, carbon dioxide and water. Blood carries fuel to the brain and waste products away from the brain. As brain activity increases blood flow to and from the area of activity increases also. Knowing these facts, researchers can use radioactive water (H215O) and PET scans to observe what areas of the brain are receiving more blood flow. This study is designed to use positron emission tomography (PET) with radioactive water (H215O) to determine the areas of the brain associated with memory and language. Patients participating in the study will be made up of normal volunteers, patients with epilepsy, and patients with other abnormalities related to the surface of the brain (non-epileptic focal cortical dysfunctions).

Conditions

Cerebrovascular Disorder; Epilepsy

Keywords

Positron Emission Tomography; Epilepsy; Stroke

Interventions

15 O Water DRUG

FDG DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Normal Volunteers:
• The desired age range is 18 to 55 years.
• Subjects will have no history of head injury or other neurological disease and must not be taking any medication.
• Female subjects of childbearing potential will be administered a pregnancy test; these subjects will not be eligible for the study requiring 2 scans.
• All volunteers will read and sign the consent form.
• Patients:
• Patients will be selected from among those referred to the Clinical Epilepsy Section, NINDS for evaluation.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with evidence of a progressive intracranial process, who are taking any drugs (except AEDs) that might affect the results, or active systemic disease will be excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Albert MS, Butters N, Brandt J. Memory for remote events in alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol. 1980 Nov;41(11):1071-81. doi: 10.15288/jsa.1980.41.1071. No abstract available.

  PMID: 7278254 BACKGROUND

• Milner B. Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. Br Med Bull. 1971 Sep;27(3):272-7. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a070866. No abstract available.

  PMID: 4937273 BACKGROUND

• Petersen SE, Fox PT, Posner MI, Mintun M, Raichle ME. Positron emission tomographic studies of the cortical anatomy of single-word processing. Nature. 1988 Feb 18;331(6157):585-9. doi: 10.1038/331585a0.

  PMID: 3277066 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Epilepsy; Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Study Start: May 1, 1991
• Study Completion: June 1, 2003
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2003-06

Locations

US (1)