PET Scan of Brain Metabolism in Relation to Age and Disease

NCT00001972 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 94020594-N-0205
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 123
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main source of energy for the brain comes from a combination of oxygen and glucose (sugar). For brain cells to function normally they must receive a constant supply of these nutrients. As areas of the brain become more active blood flow into and out of these areas increase. In addition to oxygen and glucose, the brain uses chemical compounds known as phospholipids. These phospholipids make up the covering of nerve cells that assist in the transfer of information from cell to cell. Without phospholipids brain cell activity may become abnormal and cause problems in the nervous system. Certain diseases like Alzheimer's disease and brain tumors can affect blood flow to the brain and change the way the brain metabolizes phospholipids. In addition to diseases, changes in the brain occur with normal healthy aging. This study is designed to use PET scan to measure changes in blood flow and changes in phospholipid metabolism. Using this technique, researchers can improve their understanding of how certain diseases change the shape and function of the brain.

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease; Brain Neoplasm; Niemann Pick Disease

Keywords

Alzheimer's Disease; Positron Emission Tomography; Brain Phospholipid; Fatty Acids; 11C Arachidonate; Signal Transduction; Brain

Interventions

15 O Water DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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

NORMAL VOLUNTEERS: Age between 18 and 90 years. No past or current medical condition that would interfere with brain function. No history of alcoholism, psychiatric or neurological illness, head trauma with loss of consciousness, history of exposure to central nervous system toxin; history of central nervous system infection, metabolic, endocrine, connective tissue disease; hypertension or other cardiovascular disorder; abnormal renal, liver or pulmonary function; blood or coagulation disease; malignancy; psychopharmacological treatment; neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental disorder; stroke; epilepsy; subjects requiring regular medication, and subjects demonstrated by drug screening to have taken a controlled substance. No occupational exposure to metal slivers or shavings. No females who are pregnant or breast feeding. PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER DISEASE: Age between 18 and 90 years. Diagnosis of possible or probably Alzheimer Disease according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Aside from Alzheimer Disease, no past or current medical condition that would interfere with brain function. No history of alcoholism, psychiatric or neurological illness, head trauma with loss of consciousness, history of exposure to central nervous system toxin; history of central nervous system infection, metabolic, endocrine, connective tissue diseases; hypertension or other cardiovascular disorder; abnormal renal, liver or pulmonary function; blood or coagulation disease; malignancy; psychopharmacological treatment. No females who are pregnant or breast feeding.

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

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)

• Baudier J, Cole RD. Phosphorylation of tau proteins to a state like that in Alzheimer's brain is catalyzed by a calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase and modulated by phospholipids. J Biol Chem. 1987 Dec 25;262(36):17577-83.

  PMID: 3121601 BACKGROUND

• Belfrage P, Vaughan M. Simple liquid-liquid partition system for isolation of labeled oleic acid from mixtures with glycerides. J Lipid Res. 1969 May;10(3):341-4.

  PMID: 5785006 BACKGROUND

• Brooks DJ, Lammertsma AA, Beaney RP, Leenders KL, Buckingham PD, Marshall J, Jones T. Measurement of regional cerebral pH in human subjects using continuous inhalation of 11CO2 and positron emission tomography. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 1984 Sep;4(3):458-65. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.1984.65.

  PMID: 6432811 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Brain Neoplasms; Niemann-Pick Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Nervous System Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Sphingolipidoses; Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System; Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn; Brain Diseases, Metabolic; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell; Histiocytosis; Lymphatic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Lipidoses; Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Lysosomal Storage Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Lipid Metabolism Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2000
• First Posted: January 19, 2000
• Study Start: September 1, 1994
• Study Completion: August 1, 2002
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2002-08

Locations

US (1)