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Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Multiple Sclerosis

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Multiple Sclerosis
Registration Number
NCT06966128
Lead Sponsor
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Brief Summary

First the investigators will examine if the blood flow in the brain is different in patients with Multiple Sclerosis compared to healthy volunteers.

HOW? - The blood flow of the subjects is imaged by use of a special MRI-technique.

Secondly, the investigators will examine if the blood flow can determine disease progression.

HOW?

- Multiple Sclerosis patients are asked for a follow-up visit after two years.

The main goal is to understand the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the cerebral blood flow.

* Does tDCS result in a different blood flow, in which brain regions? Is there a difference between healthy volunteers and Multiple Sclerosis patients? HOW?

* Participants get two session of tDCS. Before, during and after stimulation MRI scans are performed.

Detailed Description

Comparison of CBF between healthy volunteers and MS patients:

- Arterial spin labelling (ASL) is used to investigate cerebral blood flow in patients with MS and healthy volunteers.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cerebral blood flow:

* ASL scans are performed before-, during-, and after tDCS

* Each subject will receive active and sham tDCS (seperated by at least two days) (cross-over design).

Follow-up visit:

* After two years, patients with MS are re-invited.

* This visit will include a new neuropsychological evaluation, blood sampling and additional brain scans.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cerebral blood flow (CBF)Baseline, visit 2, and after two years

Measure of brain perfusion.

CBF is measured at baseline and after two years. Additionally, the investigators will measure CBF before-, during-, and after tDCS.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of information processing speed

California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of verbal memory

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of verbal fluency

Brief visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT-R)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of spatial memory

Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function (FSMC)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of fatigue

Beck's depression inventory (BDI)Baseline and after 2 years

Measure of depression

MRI T1 scanBaseline and after 2 years

Cortical volume, volumes of white matter and deep grey matter

MRI T2 FLAIR scanBaseline and after 2 years

Lesion load, lesion volume

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