Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

This study will test a new MRI sequence that measures cerebral blood flow (CBF). Because this technique for measuring CBF is new, there is little information on what the normal values for different regions of the brain should be. Information from the study will be used to establish normative CBF values for the brain, improving the reliable use of this technique for the diagnosis of brain injury or disease.

Appraised the empirical evidence of effectiveness of sensory stimulation to improve arousal and alertness for persons in a coma or persistent vegetative state after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Databases were searched and nine articles met inclusion criteria.

The purpose of this study is to assess if putative brain injury biomarkers have utility as blood-based traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnostic and monitoring tools. This will be accomplished by examining the relationships between potential serum-based TBI biomarkers and clinical measures of injury severity, occurrence of complications, and outcome, in subjects with mild or moderate TBI. The assay will be evaluated in a sample population of subjects over the age of 18 who have been referred to the health care provider for closed head injury evaluation.

The primary goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the efficacy of a replicable community-based group intervention, designed to address both general wellness and specific TBI health-related issues. Emphasis is placed on goal setting to develop healthy habits, utilizing problem solving strategies, learning means of maintaining progress and setting new goals. Facilitators will utilize approaches aimed at maximizing participant self-efficacy, reducing barriers to health promotion, and developing personal resources. A randomized wait-list control group design will be used to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. It is hypothesized that individuals with TBI who participate in the intervention group will report increased health promoting behaviors, health related self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, level of participation, and greater perceived wellness and satisfaction with life as compared to the control group.

Background: - The Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine is working to improve physicians' understanding of brain injury. More information is needed on traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially how well a person recovers from TBI and how the brain changes over time in people with TBI. To conduct this research, the center is sponsoring a number of research studies on TBI and is interested in evaluating individuals with TBI or post-concussive syndrome to determine if they might be eligible for future studies. Objectives: - To develop a pool of individuals with traumatic brain injury and post-concussive syndrome for future research studies. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have symptoms of or have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-concussive syndrome and are willing to participate in future studies. Design: Participants will be screened with an initial telephone interview, and will be asked to come to the National Institutes of Health for an in-person screening visit. At the screening visit, participants will provide a medical history, have a physical examination and complete a study questionnaire on their TBI and its symptoms, including how the injury occurred, when it occurred, and any previous brain-related injuries. Subjects may also return for a second visit at the NIH CC if eligible. Each visit may involve blood samples, an MRI scan, and a series of tests to evaluate brain function. Participants will also provide contact information to enable researchers to contact them for future studies....

Currently, there is no direct, reliable, bed-side, and non-invasive method for assessing changes in brain activity associated with concussion. Event Related Potentials (ERPs), which are temporal reflections of the neural mass electrical activity of cells in specific regions of the brain that occur in response to stimuli, may offer such a method, as they provide both a noninvasive and portable measure of brain function. The ERPs provide excellent temporal information, but spatial resolution for ERPs has traditionally been limited. However, by using high-density electroencephalograph (EEG) recording spatial resolution for ERPs is improved significantly. The paradigm for the current study will combine neurophysiological knowledge with mathematical signal processing and pattern recognition methods (BNA™) to temporally and spatially map brain function, connectivity and synchronization. The proposed study will provide additional evidence for the utility and contribution of the BNA™ test (reflecting temporal and spatial changes in brain activity as well as brain functional connectivity associated with concussion) in concussion management. The BNA test is basically divided to 3 phases - first EEG data is collected from subjects using an EEG system while the subject is performing a cognitive task in front of a computer. The EEG data is then analyzed using the advanced BNA™ technology. Finally, a report of the BNA™ test is generated.

Recently, researchers and clinicians have examined many different forms of concussion testing aimed to assess if a brain injury has occurred and to what degree it affects the individual being tested. Due to the multifaceted and complex presentation of concussive injuries and the unknown effects of repeated head trauma, it is unlikely that a single test of physiological or behavioral function will reflect the full range of injury-related damages from a concussive event or from a series of cumulative head traumas, as well as the injury response within brain tissue. However, by combining a variety of objective assessments which may detect structural and functional alterations following head trauma into a single study, a clearer understanding of the multi-faceted presentation resulting from head trauma may be identified. The identification of biomarkers and the utilization of objective and clinically feasible tools will provide a method to assess three domains across multiple systems affected by head trauma: 1) the prognostic value of initial concussion assessments to identify injury severity and factors responsible for prolonged recovery, 2) the temporal window of recovery and potential vulnerability of brain tissue post-injury, and 3) the long-term alterations associated with repeated head trauma exposure.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) biomarker levels in a population of CT-positive subjects (as determined by an independent Neuroimaging Review Committee) presenting acutely with traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score 9-15).

This is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study to evaluate the associations between indices of brain structure and function (measured at baseline, as soon as possible after injury) and course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Subjects will be service members who have sustained mild traumatic brain injury (classified as either "impact-induced mTBI" or "blast-induced mTBI"; n = 100 completers) or an extracranial injury (ECI) with no evidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) (n = 100 completers). Subjects will complete an assessment battery at baseline and 6 months later that includes (1) structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) derived from a 3-Tesla magnet; (2) event-related brain potentials (ERPs) derived from brain electrical activity; (3) neurocognitive tests; and (4) neurological soft signs (NSS). Specific indices of brain structure and function derived from these assessments are hypothesized to demonstrate a significant relationship with course of PTSD symptoms, which will be measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

Background: - Many service members have reported feeling tired, a loss of motivation, mood changes, and problems working with others after they have a concussion during deployment. These problems may lead to problems with their job and relationships. This study hopes to figure out what parts of the brain may be affected in people with these problems after a concussion. Objectives: - To learn more about the problems that may occur after service members have a concussion during deployment and return home. Eligibility: Service members or veterans between 18 and 40 years of age who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) in the past 6 months. Companions (at least 18 years of age) of the service members will also be included in this study. Companions will have interacted with the service member at least 1 hour a week since deployment. Design: Service members will have 1 week of tests at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Companions will have 2 days of tests at the Center. Each day, service members will have 4 or 8 hours of tests. Tests will include a medical history and physical exam, neuropsychological tests and imaging studies. The tests will ask about fatigue, stress, mood, pain, daily activities, and family support. The imaging studies will measure brain function at rest and during activity. Companions will have a medical history and physical exam. They will also complete several questionnaires about themselves as well as the service member/veteran. The tests will ask about fatigue, stress, mood, pain, daily activities, and family support....