Comparative study of brain aging in healthy individuals and those with multiple sclerosis

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates new quantitative MRI sequences to assess age-specific data for predicting brain aging in both healthy individuals and patients with multiple sclerosis. Participants will undergo blood examinations to determine biological age, clinical evaluations for various parameters, and advanced MRI scans using chemical exchange saturation transfer and T1-relaxometry on a 7 Tesla MRI. The data collected from healthy controls will help establish a normative brain age dataset, which could be utilized for training predictive models for brain aging.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Informed Consent signed by the subject

* Group 1: Any healthy individual between 18 and 65 years of age
* Group 2: Any individuals with any diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis between 18 and 65 years of age and EDSS ≤6.0.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Group 1 and 2: Any other neurological disease except primary headaches: insufficient language skills in German or French; pregnancy, lactation, any contraindication for MRI (active implants, passive ferromagnetic implants, passive non-ferromagnetic metallic implants \>4cm in the region covered by the active RF coils, large tattoos inside a region covered by the active radiofrequency (RF) coils, claustrophobia or suspected/known non-compliance), smoking within the last 10 years prior recruitment, any other drug consumption except moderate alcohol intake (less than a standard drink containing 10 grams of alcohol per day) or use of medical cannabis, any previous head trauma (with known/suspected intracranial consequences), Body Mass Index (BMI) \>30, and any other chronic progressive disease.

  * Specific Criteria for group 1: The calculated biological age (BioAge R Package algorithm) differs by \> -8/+1 years from the chronological age. These patients will not be further invited for a study visit with clinical examination and MRI.
  * Specific Criteria for group 2: EDSS \> 6.0 as this impacts physical testing; clinical relapse within the last 6 months

Where it's running

• Inselspital Bern
  Bern, Canton of Bern, Switzerland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Robert Hoepner, PD Dr.med. — Head of the MS outpatient clinic
• Study coordinator: Alejandro X. León Betancourt, Dr.med.
• Email: alejandro.betancourt@insel.ch
• Phone: +41316326093

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.