Evidence of Neuroplasticity After Performing a Cognitive Task in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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As seen in previous studies Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) MRI is able to detect very subtle changes in brain tissue even after a very short timescale of hours resulting from performing a cognitive task and learning, We wish to explore and compare those changes to patients with idiopathic PD (IPD) and see if there are changes in the learning process and can we detect them using widely available noninvasive techniques such as MRI.

Detailed Description
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Aim: to utilize high sensitivity DTI MRI methodology to explore evidence for subtle microstructural brain alterations after performing a cognitive task and to compare those changes in patients with PD to healthy controls of the same age. PD patients and controls will undergo a full cranial MRI scan for depiction of anatomy and structural abnormalities (scan duration  40 min). Immediately afterwards the subjects will play a car race computer game (Need for Speed) for 90 minutes. Following the game, the patients will undergo an additional DTI MRI scan ( 15 minutes).

Official Title
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Can Diffusion Tensor MRI Brain Scan Demonstrate Microstructural Changes as Evidence of Neuroplasticity Following a Learning Process in Patients With Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease ?

Conditions
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Parkinson Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Playing a computer game simulating a car race


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with IPD based on a clinical diagnosis of PD according to the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria (however patients with a positive family history and symmetrical onset may be included) Healthy subjects should have no known neurological disease matched for age and sex with the study group Exclusion Criteria: History of cranial surgery, radiation therapy, tumor, stroke or significant head trauma History of psychiatric disease (major depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia) Patients with severe tremor or dyskinesias that may interfere with performance of the MRI scan Patients with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 22 or under Contraindications for MRI (metal objects: implants/shrapnel/bullet; any electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implants: cardiac pacemakers/defibrillator, biostimulators, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, hearing aids, insulin pump; claustrophobia) Subjects who are familiar and have played on multiple occasions the computer game need for speed

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 30 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Healthy controls<br>Healthy controls with no known neurological disease matched for sex and age with the patients group | Behavioral: Playing a computer game simulating a car race<br>* Playing a computer game simulating a car race<br>|
| Active Comparator: IPD patients<br>Men and women diagnosed with idiopathic parkinson's disease | Behavioral: Playing a computer game simulating a car race<br>* Playing a computer game simulating a car race<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| seeing evidence of microstructural brain tissue changes in Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) MRI |  | 2 hours | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Parkinson Disease, MRI