Cerebral MRI During Sleep

Recent studies in animal models have suggested a critical role for cerebrospinal fluid and Interstitial fluid flux through cerebral parenchyma for removal of byproducts of cellular metabolism and hence in maintaining the health of the brain. This effect is modulated during sleep, suggesting a potentially important mechanism for sleep to maintain both acute homeostasis and long-term cerebral health.

The central goal of these studies is to develop a sensitive MRI biomarker of cerebral conformational changes during sleep. This exploratory work aims to establish the sensitivity and reproducibility of MRI as a non-invasive neuroimaging assessment of cerebral changes during natural sleep and sedation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Zaleplon; Other: Natural Sleep

Detailed Description

Recent studies in animal models have suggested a critical role for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) / Interstitial fluid (ISF) flux through cerebral parenchyma for removal of byproducts of cellular metabolism and hence in maintaining the health of the brain. It remains unknown to what extent these phenomena exist in the human brain. A key challenge in this work is to make non-invasive and reproducible measurements of the cerebral microenvironment in humans. For these studies, the investigators have implemented a suite of MRI measurements to track physiological changes in the brain during sleep. This exploratory work aims to establish the sensitivity and reproducibility of MRI as a non-invasive neuroimaging assessment of cerebral changes during natural sleep and sedation. The long term goal of this work is to use MRI as an imaging biomarker to assess the cerebral response to normal versus disordered sleep in patients.

Our specific aims will address the following questions:

Aim 1: How sensitive are MRI metrics for determining changes in the brain during sleep?

Aim 2: How reproducible are MRI metrics during sleep and during sedation?

The investigators will recruit 12 normal adult subjects for this study (consecutive respondees to recruitment adverts). The investigators will make regional MRI measurements during onset, maintenance and waking from stage N2 sleep. From these the investigators will characterize which MRI metrics are most sensitive to changes in the cerebral environment, and how these vary for different cerebral regions.

Measurements will be repeated during ~90 minutes of natural sleep, and following oral sedation with 10 mg zaleplon (Sonata).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 11

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • San Diego, California, United States, 92093-0677
      • UC San Diego

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 59 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

12 normal adults for this study aged 18-59. Both male and female. Consecutive participant sampling

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy Adults

Exclusion Criteria:

1. age not in range 18-59
2. smoking / recreational drug use
3. pregnant women / breast feeding
4. contraindication to MRI
5. contraindications to Zaleplon
6. history of cardiovascular pulmonary or cerebral disease (hypertension (diastolic >90 mmHg, systolic > 150 mmHg), unstable cerebrovascular syndromes, prior history of cardiac arrhythmias, unstable angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
7. Current SSRI antidepressant medication
8. History of sleep disorder or currently taking sedative / stimulant medication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cerebral MRI Changes	Change in MRI Signal from Awake Baseline	90 Minutes of Sleep

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 31, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 3, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): October 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 14, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2019
• Last Verified: March 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Hypnotics and Sedatives; GABA Modulators; GABA Agents; Anticonvulsants; Zaleplon
• Other Study ID Numbers: 170804

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No