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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02990559

Neuroimaging of Donor Iron Deficient Study

This pilot study is designed to investigate (1) whether getting iron treatment affects iron in the brain and (2) how getting iron treatment affects brain functions when it is performing specific cognitive tasks. By cognitive tasks, it means tasks that involve perceiving, representing, or assessing things. The specific cognitive tasks used here will involve tests of memory and processing speed.

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Key information

Conditions

Iron Deficiency Iron Deficiencies Iron Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, 10023, United States

About this study

Iron, the most abundant metal in the brain, is vital for multiple cellular processes, including neurotransmitter synthesis, neuron myelination, and mitochondrial function. In the United States, of the donors who provided the ~15 million units of red blood cells that were collected for transfusion, 69% were repeat donors. Although iron deficiency is surprisingly prevalent in first-time donors, its prevalence is even higher in these particularly altruistic frequent donors, (i.e., up to 49% and 66% of male and female repeat donors, respectively), manifested as iron depletion or iron-deficient erythropoiesis. Iron deficiency from blood donation is associated with fatigue, restless leg syndrome, decreased physical endurance and work capacity, and impaired concentration, attention, and other neurocognitive functions; however, these conclusions are not based on definitive studies and have not yet changed blood donation policy. This study is to collect data through noninvasive procedures routinely employed in clinical practice to better understand how iron treatment may affect brain functions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Current participant of the associated randomized controlled trial conducted at Columbia University Medical Center (therefore invited to participate in this optional ancillary study).

Exclusion criteria

  • Not a current participant of the associated randomized controlled trial conducted at Columbia University Medical Center.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in mean iron content in specific brain nuclei

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    To assess the iron deposition/accumulation in subjects' brain region by using neuroimaging such as MRI/fMRI.

  2. Cognition Fluid Composite Score

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard composite score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Activity and connectivity in specific functional networks at resting state

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    Resting state blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals will be assessed by fMRI. Independent component analysis will be used to detect alterations in connectivity in functional networks (e.g., default mode network and visual, sensory/motor, executive control, temporal/parietal, basal ganglia components) in a paired analysis comparing subjects before and after iron repletion versus placebo.

  2. Brain activity during tasks of processing speed and episodic memory

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    Brain activity patterns during performance of processing speed and episodic memory tasks will be assessed by fMRI and comparisons made from before to after iron repletion versus placebo.

  3. NIH Toolbox Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Rey) Score

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard Auditory Verbal Learning test score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). Delayed and initial scores analyzed separately. The raw score will be used in which a higher number represents more words remembered.

  4. NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test Score

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention test score (single score), measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

  5. NIH Toolbox List Sorting Working Memory Test Score

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard List Sorting Working Memory test score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

  6. NIH Toolbox Dimensional Change Card Sort Test

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard Dimensional Change Card Sort test score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

  7. NIH Toolbox Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test Score

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard Pattern Comparison Processing Speed test score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

  8. NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test

    Time frame: Up to 5 months

    NIH Toolbox derived uncorrected standard Picture Sequence Memory test score, measured at 4 time points (twice pre-randomization and twice post-randomization). The uncorrected standard score will be used, where the normative mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Columbia University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Neuroimaging of Donor Iron Deficient Study (DIDS)

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Dec 13, 2016
Registry last updated
Jun 12, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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