Impact of Stress on Brain Energy Metabolism
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Montreal Imaging Stress Test.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stress. Basic parameters: 18 years — 40 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Austria
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Impact of Acute Stress and Its Habituation on Brain Energy Metabolism
Overview
Background: Stress plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders. However, individual differences in the vulnerability to acute and repeated stress are not well understood. Aim: This work aims to investigate individual differences in glucose metabolism and directional connectivity regulating the neuronal stress response. Design: 68 healthy volunteers will undergo two simultaneous PET/MRI measurements one week apart. Participants will complete the Montreal Imaging Stress Test during each measurement and in-between. Effects of stress on cognitive performance will be assessed using the n-back working memory task. Individual cortisol levels will be acquired to identify stress (non)responders as well as (non)habituators. Implications: This work will characterize differences between stress responders vs. non-responders and stress habituators vs. non-habituators in terms of energy metabolism and network connectivity. This individual difference in the stress response may represent an important cornerstone for future evaluation of patients with mental disorders.
Detailed description
Methodological details: Each participant will undergo two PET/MRI scans. Imaging will include functional PET and as well as structural and functional MRI. Stress-specific glucose metabolism will be quantified with the radioligand \[18F\]FDG. Functional connectivity will be combined with glucose metabolism to assess directional connectivity. Based on previous literature, changes are expected to occur in the anterior cingulate cortex.
Interventions
- Behavioral Montreal Imaging Stress Test
In the Montreal Imaging Stress Test, participants are required to solve basic mathematical tasks, but the allowed reaction time is set lower than their average.
Primary outcome measures
- Stress induced changes in glucose metabolism [Time frame: 1 week]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Stress induced changes in directional connectivity [Time frame: 1 week]
- Stress induced changes in cognitive performance [Time frame: 1 week]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- 18-40 years
- right-handedness
- willingness and competence to sign the informed consent form
Exclusion criteria
- History of or current physical, neurological or psychiatric disorder
- History of or current substance abuse or medication, including antipsychotic, antidepressant and antianxiety agents
- Pregnancy of current breast-feeding
- Contraindications for MRI-scanning (e.g., metal implants, steel grafts, etc.), including dental implants causing signal artifacts
- For subjects participating in earlier studies using ionizing radiation, the total radiation exposure of 30 mSv over the last 10 years must not be exceeded, as specified in the Austrian legislation on radiation protection Accordingly, body weight > 105 kg is an exclusion criterion.
- Failure to comply with the study protocol or to follow the instructions of the investigating team.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
Study locations
Austria · 1 center
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna — Vienna
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06243783 · PSY-NIL-0012