Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Human Subjects (NG)

September 6, 2019 updated by: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

14

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390-8564
        • UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Division on Addictions

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 55 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients will be recruited from residential sober living and outpatient facilities. Patients will also be recruited through flyers placed locally. Healthy controls will be recruited from the Greater Dallas community.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Control
Healthy control group. No history of substance abuse or dependence.
Actively using patients
Participants actively using cocaine.
Abstinent Patients
Participants who have been abstinent from cocaine use for 3-6 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assess Neural Progenitor Cells
Time Frame: within 3 weeks of screening physical
A 1 hour Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to determine the presence of newborn hippocampal neurons in using and abstinent cocaine addicts
within 3 weeks of screening physical

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hippocampal cerebral blood volume
Time Frame: within 3 weeks of screening physical
Measure cerebral blood flow during an hour long Vascular-Space-Occupancy (VASO) Magnetic Resonance Imaging to assess production of hippocampal cells
within 3 weeks of screening physical

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

May 1, 2012

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

January 1, 2018

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

January 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 3, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 3, 2014

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

January 7, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

September 9, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 6, 2019

Last Verified

September 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STU 032012-021

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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