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RECRUITING
NCT07509125
NA

Ultra-High Resolution PET in Aging, Neurodegeneration and Psychotic Disorders

Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

The goal of this study is to use ultra-high-resolution (UHR) PET imaging to better understand how the brain and spinal cord change in healthy aging and in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and psychotic disorders. Researchers will use the NeuroExplorer PET/CT system, a new scanner that can show very small structures in the brain and spinal cord in much more detail than regular PET. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How do small but important brain regions (like the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, and thalamic nuclei) change in healthy aging? * What early brain changes occur in neurodegenerative and psychotic disorders, and can they help improve early diagnosis? Participants will: * Undergo PET and MRI brain scans using different tracers that measure brain metabolism (18F-FDG), synaptic density (¹⁸F-SynVesT-1), dopamine transporters (¹⁸F-PE2I), and tau protein buildup (¹⁸F-MK6240). * Complete cognitive and clinical assessments related to memory, mood, and motor or psychiatric symptoms, depending on their group. This study will include healthy volunteers and patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer´s disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease and related disorders, or psychotic disorders. The results will help create detailed brain imaging maps for healthy aging and identify early biomarkers for different diseases to support better diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Official title: Ultra-High Resolution PET of the Human Brain and Spinal Cord in Healthy Aging, Dementia, Movement Disorders, ALS and Psychotic Disorders

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 90 Years

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

300

Start Date

2026-02-13

Completion Date

2029-09

Last Updated

2026-04-03

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Interventions

OTHER

UHR PET/CT scan of the brain with ¹⁸F-FDG

Ultra-high-resolution PET/CT imaging of the brain on the NeuroEXPLORER system using ¹⁸F-FDG radiotracer to assess glucose metabolism

OTHER

UHR PET/CT scan of the brain with ¹⁸F-PE2I

Ultra-high-resolution PET/CT imaging of the brain on the NeuroEXPLORER system using ¹⁸F-PE2I radiotracer to assess dopaminergic activity

OTHER

UHR PET/CT scan of the brain with ¹⁸F-SynVesT-1

Ultra-high-resolution PET/CT imaging of the brain on the NeuroEXPLORER system using ¹⁸F-SynVesT-1 radiotracer to assess synaptic density

OTHER

UHR PET/CT scan of the brain with ¹⁸F-MK6240

Ultra-high-resolution PET/CT imaging of the brain on the NeuroEXPLORER system using ¹⁸F-MK6240 radiotracer to assess neurofibrillary tangles

OTHER

3T MRI imaging of the brain

All participants will undergo 3T MRI, including T1- and FLAIR-weighted sequences for anatomical reference and white matter pathology, neuromelanin-sensitive imaging to assess SN and LC integrity, and multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for white matter tractography.

Locations (1)

UZ Leuven

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium