Neuroplasticity Biomarkers in Aphasia
Genetic and MRI Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity Predict Aphasia Recovery and Phenotypes
University of Wisconsin, Madison
90 participants
Mar 17, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Patients with stroke frequently suffer from aphasia, a disorder of expressive and/or receptive language, that can lead to serious health consequences, including social isolation, depression, reduced quality of life, and increased caregiver burden. Aphasia recovery varies greatly between individuals, and likely relies upon the capacity for neuroplasticity, both at a systems level of reorganized brain networks and a molecular level of neuronal repair and plasticity. The proposed work will evaluate genetic and neural network biological markers of neuroplasticity associated with variability in aphasia, with a future goal to improve prognostics and identify therapeutic targets to reduce the long-term burdens of aphasia.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria8
- Ages 40-90
- Right-handed (prior to stroke)
- Proficient English speakers
- History of a single ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory that is lateralized to the left or right (Aim 1) cerebral hemisphere.
- Presence of aphasia (Aims 2-3)
- Capacity to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent
- Acute or subacute stroke at the time of Aim 1 enrollment; Stroke #12 months old (chronic) at the time of Aims 2-3 enrollment
- Medically stable
Exclusion Criteria5
- History of significant medical or neurological disorder (other than stroke)
- History of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders
- Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise
- Clinically significant and uncorrected vision or hearing loss
- Anything other than standard of care stroke treatment such as Plavix, aspirin (81-300 mg daily), beta-blockers, diabetes medications or choles- terol-lowering agents, thrombolytics (e.g., tPA), anticoagulation agents such as Heparin, Warfarin/Coumadin
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
Pseudoword learning is an experimental learning task by which participants view two novel objects (a target and a foil) and simultaneously hear an audio recording of the pseudoword name of one of the two objects. Participants must choose (via mouse click) which object corresponds to the word presented, immediately after which feedback is provided.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT06471127