Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Development in Autism

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate brain development in autism by longitudinally assessing children with autism, as well as typically developing controls, using advanced MR techniques. We will use longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures to investigate the protracted development of long-range white matter fibers in autism. In addition, we will investigate the effect of autism risk genes on brain development.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 6 – 18 years at initial MRI Inclusion criteria for subjects with autism 1) DSM-IV (APA, 1994) diagnosis of autism, according to ADI-R interview Inclusion criteria for controls 1. no DSM-IV (APA, 1994) diagnosis, according to DISC interview 2. no scores in the clinical range on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Rating Form (TRF) 3. IQ > 70 Exclusion Criteria:

1. major illness of the cardiovascular, the endocrine, the pulmonal or the gastrointestinal system 2. presence of metal objects in or around the body (pacemaker, dental braces) 3. history of or present neurological disorder 4. for individuals over 12 years of age: legal incompetence, defined as the obvious inability to comprehend the information that is presented by the investigator and is outlined in the Information letter and on which the decision to participate in the study is to be based

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 6 Years

Maximum Age: 18 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • UMC Utrecht
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Sarah Durston, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht
    • Herman van Engeland, M.D. Ph.D., Study Chair, Rudolf Magnust Institute of Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht
  • Overall Contact(s)
    • Sarah Durston, +31 30 250 8161, S.Durston@umcutrecht.nl

References

Langen M, Durston S, Staal WG, Palmen SJ, van Engeland H. Caudate nucleus is enlarged in high-functioning medication-naive subjects with autism. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Aug 1;62(3):262-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.09.040. Epub 2007 Jan 16.

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.