Clinical Research Directory

Combined Exercise and Targeted Therapy for Post-Stroke Reading Deficits

The goal of the proposed project is to test the effectiveness of a novel hybrid approach to treatment of reading disorders after stroke, in which exercise training will be used in combination with a targeted reading treatment. This approach is expected to increase cerebral circulation and help to rebuild and strengthen the damaged phonological neural networks. Through this combinatory approach, the study aims to enhance the reading and language improvements seen with existing treatments.

Gene x Environment Interplay in Developmental Dyslexia Treatment: A Round-trip Translation Between Humans and Animal

Developmental dyslexia affects 7% of school-age children (Male:Female ratio of 1.5:1) and incurs disadvantages in education and occupation. Scientific progress concerning the etiology of developmental dyslexia evidenced the complex gene-environment interaction. The DCDC2-READ1 deletion associates with reading skills and affects the magnocellular-dorsal stream in humans and animals. DCDC2 modifies neural activity within the excitatory pathways. The magnocellular-dorsal stream mediates the function of the attention network. Difficulties in spatial and temporal attention shifting impair letter-to-speech sound integration increasing neural noise. Action video games improve the efficiency of the magnocellular-dorsal stream. The aim of this cutting-edge, round trip translation study is threefold: 1.to unravel new insights behind the pathophysiology of developmental dyslexia, 2. to assess gene-environment interaction effects on developmental dyslexia endophenotypes, and 3. to identify useful clues to foster the identification of new, personalized treatments.