Perceived fatigue and motor fatigability in multiple sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study combining neurophysiology and neuroimaging to understand better the interplay between perceived fatigue and motor fatigability in MS patients.
IRAS ID
260176
Contact name
James Stone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue was found to be the most commonly reported and most debilitating symptom. It affects employment rates, and is therefore critical for the UK economy. There are no efficacious intervention for MS fatigue, partly because the causes are poorly understood, and partly because it is difficult to move away from a simple perception (subjective fatigue) and measure fatigue more objectively. In sport and exercise science, neuromuscular fatigue can be measured (objectively) as a reduced ability to produce muscle force voluntarily, typically occurring after prolonged exercise in healthy poopulations, and protocols based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are available. We propose to adapt this paradigm to measure fatigue more objectively in MS. In a subgroup of participants, we will combine this with MRI assessment of brain activity during muscle contraction and measures of microstructural damage along the cortico-spinal tract. To further disentangle the central element of fatigue from physical factors, participants will also be asked to perform a motor imagery task during functional MRI.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
19/NI/0154
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion