Multimodal imaging of Inflammation in Epileptogenesis and Depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
INFLAmmatory pathways in Multi-modal imaging of Epileptogenesis and Depression - a pilot study (INFLAMED)
IRAS ID
266683
Contact name
Matthias J Koepp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2020/03/73, UCL Data Protection Reference Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions. People with epilepsy often also suffer from depression. Both conditions have a huge impact on a patient's life, and some people with epilepsy feel more affected by their symptoms of depression than their seizures. Studies have shown that suffering from depression increases the risk to develop epilepsy, and to continue suffering from seizures irrespective of treatment. Research studies in animals and humans have shown that inflammation in the brain can lead to both, the development of epilepsy and depression.
In this study, we plan to use imaging techniques measuring changes caused by inflammation in the brain. This will help us to understand how brain inflammation may lead to both conditions. Participants will also complete a questionnaire about their mood.
We will explore:
1. Whether inflammatory changes may explain why some people with epilepsy also suffer from depression; and
2. Whether the amount of brain inflammation leads to more severe epilepsy by changing the structure and function of the brain.
To answer these questions, we will study people with epilepsy, and people who do not have epilepsy as a control group. Firstly, we will compare people with epilepsy and controls to characterize the amount of inflammation in the brain in those with epilepsy. We will then compare people with epilepsy with and without depression, to see how different the amount of inflammation is in those with depression. We will use a new brain imaging technique, which measures changes in the blood vessels (so called "leaky vessels") in the brain, a phenomenon commonly seen in brain inflammation. We will also use imaging techniques that measure changes in brain structure and function. We will then investigate how inflammation in the brain may lead to changes of brain structure and function.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0113
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion