Clinical Trial: PET Imaging in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: PET Imaging in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Brief Summary:
Background:
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease caused in part by head injury. The brain changes from CTE can only be seen at autopsy. Researchers want to test a new brain scan to help diagnose CTE in living patients.
Objective:
- To determine if a new type of brain scan can detect changes that occur in chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Eligibility:
- Adults age 18 60 with previous head injury or participation in certain sports.
Design:
- Participants will be screened with:
- Physical exam
- Blood and urine tests
- Tests of thinking, mood, and memory
- 30-minute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan. A magnetic field and radio waves take pictures of the brain. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder. They will get earplugs for the loud knocking sounds.
- Visit 1: Participants will have a 70-minute PET scan of the brain with a small amount of a radioactive chemical. That will be injected through an intravenous tube (catheter) in each arm. A catheter will also be put into an artery at the wrist or elbow.
- Participants will lie on a bed that slides in and out of a donut-shaped scanner. A plastic mask may be molded to their face and head. Vital signs and heart activity will be checked before and during the scan.
- Blood and urine will be taken before and after the scan
