Acute Intermittent Hypoxia in Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain InjuriesTraumaticThis study is designed to answer questions related to safety and preliminary efficacy of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia (AIH) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors. First, we aim to establish whether brief reductions in inhaled oxygen concentration can be safely tolerated in TBI survivors. Second, we aim to establish whether there are any effects of AIH on memory, cognition, and motor control. Participants will be monitored closely for any adverse events during these experiments. Data will be analyzed to determine if there is an improvement in key outcomes at any dose level.
Brain Balance Study
Traumatic Brain InjuryA moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring in early or middle adulthood might have long-lasting effects on the brain that can accelerate the decline of physical and cognitive function in older age. The proposed study seeks to better understand the implications of aging with a TBI, in order to help Veterans maintain their health and independence. The overarching hypothesis of this new line of research is that participants who experienced a moderate TBI in early or middle adulthood (at least 15 years prior to study enrollment) will have poorer performance on balance and cognitive tests, despite self-reporting no persistent motor or cognitive impairment from the TBI. The investigators also seek to evaluate the potential for practice-based learning and improvement of complex balance tasks in this population, to gain experience for conducting future rehabilitation studies. The long term goal of this line of research is to design rehabilitative and lifestyle interventions to preserve brain health and function in Veterans who have previously experienced a TBI.
Mobilising Patients With Severe Brain Injury in Intensive Care
Brain Injury Traumatic SevereSubarachnoid Hemorrhage1 moreIntroduction Patients with severe brain injury are often restricted to bed rest during the early period of brain injury which may lead to unwanted secondary complications. There is lack of evidence of when to initiate the first mobilisation. The Sara Combilizer® is an easy and efficient tool for mobilising patients with severe injuries, including brain injury. Through a randomised cross-over trial the investigators will investigate the impact of early mobilisation on patients with severe acquired brain injury caused by traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid brain injury or intracranial haematoma. The investigators hypothesise that mobilisation using the Sara Combilizer® does not affect partial oxygenation of brain tissue.
Cognitive Support Technology for Postsecondary Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)This study will fill important knowledge gaps in the availability of best practices that use innovative methods to integrate the cognitive and vocational needs of students with TBI who will be transitioning from 2- and 4-year postsecondary education to employment. Best practices exist from the assistive technology (AT) field to help people compensate for cognitive impairments, and from the vocational rehabilitation (VR) field to enhance employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. However, these practices have not been integrated to provide needed supports and services to improve the employment outcomes of students with TBI. The study's goal is to expand the availability of innovative practices by testing the efficacy of a technology-driven, long-term, and resource-rich individualized support program that merges assistive technology for cognition and vocational rehabilitation practices. The end products will include technology application guidelines, training and procedural manuals, and resource information that rehabilitation professionals and students with TBI can utilize to enhance technology and mentoring proficiency, academic success, self-determination, and long-term career success for students with TBI.
Blood Biomarkers to Improve Management of Children With Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain InjuryMild traumatic brain injury (TBI), defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 to 15, is the cause of many consultations in paediatric emergency departments (1), even though it is a rare cause of acute complication: approximately 10% of children present with intracranial lesions (ICL) on the CT scan and less than 1% require neurosurgical intervention (2). Although ICLs remain a serious complication requiring rapid diagnosis, brain CT scans, the gold standard diagnostic test, cannot be performed routinely because many children would be unnecessarily exposed to ionising radiation associated with an increased risk of cancer (3). In recent years, several clinical decision rules for the management of mTBI have therefore been developed with the aim of identifying children at high or very low risk of ICL in order to better target CT scan indications. Despite this, the rate of CT scans performed has remained high, up to 35%, and has not decreased with the application of these clinical decision rules (4). Furthermore, even though the majority of children and adolescents recover quickly after mTBI, nearly 30% will present symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, asthenia, memory, concentration or sleep disorders persisting beyond one month with a possible impact on their quality of life (5). Thus, there is a need to develop new strategies to (i) limit the use of CT scans while minimising the risk of late diagnosis of ICL, (ii) identify children with a higher risk of adverse outcome and/or post-concussive symptoms. One of the most promising strategies is the use of brain-based blood biomarkers. This study therefore aims to provide new knowledge on two of them, GFAP and UCH-L1 (6,7), in particular by using an automated test combining them (the VIDAS® TBI test developed by bioMérieux) in order to improve the management of CT in the paediatric population at the diagnostic and prognostic levels.
TMS-EEG for Cortical Excitability
Acquired Brain InjuryStroke2 moreThis research study is being done to look at the safety and diagnostic benefit of conducting an TMS(transcranial magnetic stimulation)-EEG measured before and after a brief experimental stimulation session using investigational devices repetitive TMS or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
Non-invasive Nerve Stimulation for PTSD and Sleep
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderTraumatic Brain InjuryIn this study, our objective is to determine the effect of two different nerve stimulation types in changing sleep architecture.
rTMS for Military TBI-related Depression
Depressive SymptomsMild Traumatic Brain Injury2 moreThis study aims to compare different types of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) that may alleviate depressive symptoms in United States Military Service Members with a history of concussion.
Multicenter Evaluation of Memory Remediation After TBI With Donepezil
Traumatic Brain InjuryMemory DeficitsThis is a four-site, randomized, parallel design, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 10-week trial of donepezil 10 mg daily for verbal memory problems among adults with TBI in the subacute or chronic recovery period. The study will recruit 160 persons with TBI and functionally important memory problems during a four-year period of open recruitment. The study aims are: To evaluate the effects of treatment with donepezil on verbal memory as assessed by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Total Trial 1-3; To evaluate the effects of treatment with donepezil on memory-related activities as measured by the Everyday Memory Questionnaire; To evaluate the effects of donepezil on attention, processing speed, neuropsychiatric symptoms, community participation, quality of life, and caregiver experiences.
Brain and Gut Plasticity in Mild TBI or Post-acute COVID Syndrome Following Growth Hormone Therapy...
Traumatic Brain InjuryFatigue2 morePatients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or post acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) and abnormal growth hormone secretion, as measured by glucagon stimulation test, will be treated with replacement growth hormone therapy for a period of 6 months (mTBI) or 9 months (PASC). Testing of cognition, exercise, fatigue, brain activation and morphology, body composition and measurements of quality of life will be performed before and after the treatment period. Fecal sampling for characterization of the GI microbiome will occur monthly over the treatment period. Control subjects will be enrolled and will provide fecal samples monthly for 6 months. GI microbiomes will be compared between mTBI patients, PASC patients and controls at baseline as well as over the treatment period.