Why do People With Cerebral Palsy Often Feel Fatigued?

NCT07059702 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REK#774384
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Persons with cerebral palsy (CP) commonly suffer from fatigue. Fatigue is an important cause of their reduced participation in work or social life. Traditionally, CP-related fatigue has been viewed as related to the person's motor impairment. This view causes habilitation efforts to focus on muscle function. We hypothesize that the feeling of being fatigued must involve the activity of a specific, but un-identified, brain network that represents this particular sensation. We will use electroencephalography (EEG) and 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in CP patients with fatigue of different degrees to identify difference in brain activity that can highlight the presumed 'fatigue network' in the brain. In this work, we build on experience from another study on fatigue in people that have had a brain abscess (see: Cognitive function and fatigue after brain abscess, NCT#: NCT04938362) Clarification of whether fatigue in CP has a muscular or cerebral cause will hopefully inform and improve habilitation efforts for this group, and it may single out fatigue as a separate treatment target.

Conditions

Fatigue Intensity

Keywords

Fatigue in cerebral palsy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• EEG band power

  We will analyze EEG with respect to band power within alpha, theta, and delta frequencies. We will compare EEG results from those with mild (or absent) fatigue (a 'caseness' value of 6 or less according to Chalder's fatigue questionnaire) to those with more severe fatigue (a 'caseness' value \> 6). We will compare EEG results from those with left-sided CP to those with right-sided CP and include those with symmetric CP (diplegic or tetraplegic CP) as reference.

  From enrollment to performance of EEG at 12 weeks

• EEG band power in alpha, theta, and delta frequencies

  FDG-PET will be analyzed with respect to regional brain activity as can be inferred from the FDG-PET signal intensity. We will compare FDG-PET results from those with mild/absent fatigue to those with more severe fatigue. We will compare FDG-PET results from those with right-sided hemiplegia to those with left-sided hemiplegia and to those with di-/tetraplegia.

  From enrollment to the performance of FDG-PET: 3 months

Study Arms (1)

Persons with cerebral palsy

Persons with cerebral palsy of any degree, having fatigue of any degree.

Other: There will be no intervention.

Interventions

There will be no intervention. OTHER

There will be no intervention. This is an observational study that uses EEG and FDG-PET results as parameters. These investigations will b e performed on a clinical basis.

Persons with cerebral palsy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Persons with cerebral palsy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oslo University Hospital: collaborator
• University of Oslo: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Neurohabilitation, Oslo, Norway

Oslo, 0450, Norway

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 1, 2025
• First Posted: July 11, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2035
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2035
• Last Updated: December 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (1)