Connectome Characterization With Aging

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main aim of this project is to develop a new model to characterize brain connectivity and its changes with aging. This characterization will be based on new sensitive and specific markers, allowing a better understanding of structural and functional brain networks. To this end, two complementary MRI methods will be developed: 1) Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) which allows the measurement of cerebral activity in different cortical gray matter regions, and 2) high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) MRI, which allows to characterize brain tissue microarchitecture. HARDI sequences will be developed to acquire and reconstruct fiber tractography of patient's brains. In combination with conventional MRI, both HARDI and rs-fMRI will be used to estimate the connection degree between each pair of cortical regions, so- called Connectome. Once generated, brain networks will be quantified through numerous graph metrics, such as graph density, global efficiency and assortativity (etc.), reflecting the organization and topology of subjects' connectivity with aging.

Official Title
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Connectome Characterization With Aging Using Functional and Structural MRI

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Single complete MRI intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Volunteers (Men and women) aged between 18 and 50 years No neurological or psychiatric diseases Exclusion Criteria: MRI contraindications Pregnant women or nursing women Persons under guardianship or any other administrative or deprivation of liberty or of right

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 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: Single MRI examination<br>40 subjects will benefit from a full MRI | Other: Single complete MRI intervention<br>* MRI examination will comprise conventional T1 and FLAIR sequences, and advanced sequences such as rs-fMRI and High angular resolution MRI (HARDI).<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Reproducibility study<br>10 subjects will benefit from the realization of 3 MRI. An MRI examination performed at the time of inclusion and then an examination, at 3 months and at 9 months (ie 3 examinations per subject). | Other: Single complete MRI intervention<br>* MRI examination will comprise conventional T1 and FLAIR sequences, and advanced sequences such as rs-fMRI and High angular resolution MRI (HARDI).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Functional and structural connectivity MRI marker : resting-state fMRI | Functional connectivity of grey matter (GM) using resting-state fMRI | End of study (one year) | 
| Functional and structural connectivity MRI marker : Functional connectivity | Graph-theory methods analysis of functional connectivity of grey matter | End of study (one year) | 
| Functional and structural connectivity MRI marker : Diffusion tensor | Structural connectivity of white matter (WM) fiber bundles measured by diffusion tensor imaging | End of study (one year) | 
| Functional and structural connectivity MRI marker : Structural connectivity | Graph-theory methods analysis of Structural connectivity of white matter (WM) fiber | End of study (one year) | 
| Functional and structural connectivity MRI marker : SPM software | Cortical and subcortical grey matter (GM) volumes using the SPM software | End of study (one year) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Metrics of functional connectivity | Calculation of functional connectivity metrics using graphs theory methods | End of study (one year) |