Longitudinal Study of the MUMRI audio-paced paradigm for MND diagnosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Longitudinal Investigation of Motor Unit MRI (MUMRI) Using a auditory-paced movement Paradigm for the Diagnosis of MND
IRAS ID
364812
Contact name
Roger Whittaker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The study will use the motor unit MRI (MUMRI) technique developed by our research team. This method employs standard diffusion-weighted MRI sequences to detect motor unit activity in skeletal muscle. We have previously applied this technique in studies involving patients with motor neuron disease (MND), mitochondrial disease, sarcopenia and polio.
The current study uses the same imaging protocol, with the addition of auditory-paced voluntary foot-tapping movements to selectively recruit specific motor unit populations. Surface EMG will be recorded alongside MRI to validate the diagnostic value of the voluntary-movement MRI paradigm.
The primary aim is to investigate muscle status across different body regions in individuals with MND, in order to better characterise spatial variations in motor unit behaviour. By repeating assessments over several months, we will also evaluate longitudinal changes in motor unit activity, enabling us to monitor disease progression and assess the stability or degeneration of motor unit populations over time.
Participants will be asked to attend four visits to our research facility. Each visit will include one MRI scanning session and one surface EMG recording session.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0039
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion