Evaluation of Brain MRI Changes in Cerebral Palsy Patients

NCT07433647 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AAAU1870
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by sensorimotor impairment that arises during early childhood defined as a static insult to the developing brain. A key part of the definition for CP is a non-progressive brain injury; however, as individuals with CP age, a functional decline greater than neurotypical individuals is often present. The investigators are doing this research study to improve understanding of whether there is brain and spinal cord atrophy over time that could indicate neurodegeneration. To do this, the investigators will partner with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network to obtain brain and spinal cord MRIs from people with CP across the United States. The investigators will perform analyses on multiple longitudinal MR images of the brain and spinal cord obtained from adults with CP. Putative changes will be related with changes in function across time. ... This will be a single-center study that will compare retrospective clinical and imaging data with similar prospective data. The objective is to find out if people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience changes in the structures of their brain over time. A key part of the CP definition is that it is a non-progressive brain injury. However, as people with CP age, their function often deteriorates. This study seeks to determine whether changes in the brain structure may result in function changes, as they do in other types of brain injuries. The investigators are doing this research study to improve understanding of whether there is brain and spinal cord atrophy over time that could indicate neurodegeneration. To do this, the investigators will partner with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network to obtain brain and spinal cord MRIs from people with CP across the United States, as well as locally. The investigators will perform analyses on multiple longitudinal MR images of the brain and spinal cord obtained from adults with CP. Putative changes will be related with changes in function across time.

Conditions

Spastic Diplegia; Spastic Hemiplegia; Cerebral Palsy; Spastic Quadriplegia

Keywords

brain volume; cortical thickness; aging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Total brain volume

  This is a number, measured in cubic millimeters, that includes the output from segmentation of each individual MRI scan per subject.

  From first MRI scan to second MRI scan, composed of a timespan of at least 2 or more years

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Cortical thickness

  From first MRI scan to second MRI scan, composed of a timespan of at least 2 or more years.

Study Arms (2)

Retrospective

Patients who have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, are adults (\>18 years of age), and have at least one brain MRI will be identified through chart review. Those patients who have two or more brain MRI scans will be included in the retrospective arm only.

Prospective

Patients who have only one brain MRI scan will be included in the prospective arm of the study. These patients will undergo MRIs of both the brain and cervical spine without contrast.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

People with cerebral palsy across the United States

You may qualify if:

• Have multiple MRI scans of brain and/or spinal cord spaced at least 24 months apart
• Between 18-80 years of age with at least one MRI scan after the age of 18
• No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury other than cerebral palsy
• diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
• \>18 years of age
• have received at least one past brain MRI scan as part of standard care (patients who have two or more brain MRI scans can be included in the retrospective arm only)

You may not qualify if:

• History of more than one seizure in lifetime
• History of known genetic disorder
• History of brain tumor, abscess, or multiple sclerosis
• History of moderate or severe head trauma
• History of metal implants in head

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Columbia University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, Columbia University

New York, New York, 10040, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy; Quadriplegia; Hemiplegia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Damage, Chronic; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Paralysis; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Jason Carmel, MD, PhD

  Columbia University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jason Carmel, MD, PhD

CONTACT

212-305-2700; jbc28@cumc.columbia.edu

Shaker Dukkipati, MD, PhD

CONTACT

212-305-2700; sd3850@cumc.columbia.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Target Duration: 2 Years
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Weinberg Family Associate Professor of Neurology Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2026
• First Posted: February 25, 2026
• Study Start: June 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2029
• Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

US (1)