Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Human Subjects
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Pulmonary |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 55 |
| Updated: | 7/11/2015 |
| Start Date: | June 2012 |
| End Date: | June 2014 |
| Contact: | Bryon Adinoff, M.D. |
| Email: | bryon.adinoff@utsouthwestern.edu |
| Phone: | 214-645-6975 |
Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Human Subjects (Pilot Study)
This study is being done to measure the number of brain cells that grow in the brain
throughout our lives while determining an effective way to complete this with an MRI
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner. The number of these brain cells may be affected by
cocaine use. Researchers are trying to understand the long-term effects of cocaine use on
the brain.
throughout our lives while determining an effective way to complete this with an MRI
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner. The number of these brain cells may be affected by
cocaine use. Researchers are trying to understand the long-term effects of cocaine use on
the brain.
New neurons are generated through the process of neurogenesis. Although most active during
pre-natal development, neurogenesis persists throughout the human lifespan. In adulthood,
neurogenesis occurs predominantly in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus.
A highly novel methodology using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) has recently been
developed to measure the formation of hippocampal newborn stem cells in the human brain. We
propose to assess Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) in the neuropsychiatric disorder cocaine
dependence, a chronic disease process associated with pathology of the hippocampus and
impaired neurogenesis. In addition, we will assess other measures associated with
neurogenesis, including hippocampal (dentate gyrus) cerebral blood volume (CBV) using
Vascular-Space-Occupancy (VASO) Magnetic Resonance Imaging. We predict that newborn
hippocampal cells [or neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs] will be attenuated in recently using
cocaine-addicted participants relative to abstinent and control participants, and that these
changes will be paralleled by changes in CBV. In this pilot study, we will assess for these
changes in cocaine-addicted subjects who are actively using cocaine and those who are
recently abstinent (three to six months) as well as age-, race-, and gender-similar control
participants.
pre-natal development, neurogenesis persists throughout the human lifespan. In adulthood,
neurogenesis occurs predominantly in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus.
A highly novel methodology using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) has recently been
developed to measure the formation of hippocampal newborn stem cells in the human brain. We
propose to assess Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) in the neuropsychiatric disorder cocaine
dependence, a chronic disease process associated with pathology of the hippocampus and
impaired neurogenesis. In addition, we will assess other measures associated with
neurogenesis, including hippocampal (dentate gyrus) cerebral blood volume (CBV) using
Vascular-Space-Occupancy (VASO) Magnetic Resonance Imaging. We predict that newborn
hippocampal cells [or neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs] will be attenuated in recently using
cocaine-addicted participants relative to abstinent and control participants, and that these
changes will be paralleled by changes in CBV. In this pilot study, we will assess for these
changes in cocaine-addicted subjects who are actively using cocaine and those who are
recently abstinent (three to six months) as well as age-, race-, and gender-similar control
participants.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Cocaine-dependence (patient population) or no cocaine-dependence (control population)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Other medical or psychiatric disorders that may effect neural functioning
- Medications that may effect neural functioning
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