Identifying brain recovery markers in stroke patients with aphasia
Official title: Genetic and MRI Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity Predict Aphasia Recovery and Phenotypes
Run by University of Wisconsin, Madison · NCT06471127 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is trying to find out how brain recovery affects language skills in stroke patients with aphasia to help improve their treatment and recovery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 17, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | July 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06471127 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are right-handed, proficient English-speaking adults aged 40-90 who have experienced a single ischemic stroke and currently exhibit aphasia.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant medical or neurological disorders, poorly controlled psychiatric conditions, or those with uncorrected vision or hearing loss may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This research focuses on understanding how neuroplasticity affects recovery from aphasia in stroke patients. It aims to evaluate genetic and neural network biomarkers associated with individual differences in recovery outcomes. The study will track changes in language abilities over time and identify predictors of chronic aphasia severity and learning variability. By doing so, it seeks to enhance prognostic models and inform targeted rehabilitation strategies for those affected by aphasia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved prognostic tools and personalized rehabilitation therapies for stroke survivors with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using neuroplasticity markers for recovery prediction in stroke patients, indicating that this approach has potential based on previous findings.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Ages 40-90 2. Right-handed (prior to stroke) 3. Proficient English speakers 4. History of a single ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory that is lateralized to the left or right (Aim 1) cerebral hemisphere. 5. Presence of aphasia (Aims 2-3) 6. Capacity to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent 7. Acute or subacute stroke at the time of Aim 1 enrollment; Stroke #12 months old (chronic) at the time of Aims 2-3 enrollment 8. Medically stable Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of significant medical or neurological disorder (other than stroke) 2. History of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders 3. Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise 4. Clinically significant and uncorrected vision or hearing loss 5. Anything other than standard of care stroke treatment such as Plavix, aspirin (81-300 mg daily), beta-blockers, diabetes medications or choles- terol-lowering agents, thrombolytics (e.g., tPA), anticoagulation agents such as Heparin, Warfarin/Coumadin
Where it's running
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UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Haley Dresang, PhD — University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Study coordinator: Haley Dresang, PhD
- Email: hdresang@wisc.edu
- Phone: (608) 890-0628
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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TMS plus language therapy to improve word-finding after left-hemisphere stroke
Researchers will try excitatory transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with semantic feature analysis language therapy to improve word-finding in adults with aphasia after left-hemisphere stroke.
-
Exploring the effects of TMS on language processing in stroke and aphasia
This study tests whether Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can help improve language skills in people who have had a stroke and struggle with aphasia, as well as in healthy individuals.
-
Tailoring rTMS for Post-Stroke Aphasia Based on Language Profile
A non-drug brain stimulation approach is tested to see if customizing rTMS targets improves language recovery in people with aphasia after a left-brain stroke.
-
tDCS in Rehab for Stroke-Related Aphasia: A Practical Implementation
This study tests whether a 20-minute anodal tDCS session paired with speech therapy can be integrated into routine inpatient and outpatient rehab for people who recently had a stroke and now have aphasia.
-
Decoding Mandarin speech features from brain-surface signals
This project will try to decode imagined Mandarin speech, including lexical tones, from high-density brain-surface (ECoG) signals in adult patients who are having clinically indicated cortical electrode placement.
-
Digital speech-therapy app Zenicom for subacute post-stroke aphasia in Korean speakers
This trial will try the Zenicom digital speech-therapy app alongside conventional therapy to see if it helps Korean adults with aphasia after a recent (within 3 months) stroke.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.