Recruiting

Brain imaging to detect inflammation in neurological diseases

Plain-English translation of NCT04396873 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

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What is this trial?

Researchers want to understand whether two inflammation markers called COX-1 and COX-2 are elevated in the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or ALS. This study uses a special type of brain imaging called PET scanning to measure these markers and compare them between people with these diseases and healthy volunteers. The goal is to learn whether measuring these markers could help doctors better understand and diagnose brain diseases in the future.

Currently, doctors don't have a reliable way to measure inflammation in the living brain as a sign of neurological disease. This research could open new doors for earlier diagnosis and better understanding of what's happening in the brains of people with these conditions.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years old or older
you have been diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist with mild cognitive impairment, ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or another neurodegenerative dementia
you are in good general health overall
you have adequate blood flow in your wrist (checked by pulse test) and no metal objects in your wrists
you are able to understand the study and willing to sign a consent form

You likely don't qualify if…

you have taken NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or naproxen) in the past two weeks, or aspirin, steroids, or immunosuppressants in the past month
you are allergic to or cannot take ketoprofen
you have a history of stomach or intestinal bleeding
you have significant abnormalities on heart tests or blood work
you have an unstable medical condition or active infection that would make the study unsafe

What participation looks like

You will come to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for brain imaging scans using a PET camera, which takes pictures of inflammation in your brain. Some participants may have two scanning sessions to test how reliable the measurements are. You'll also have blood tests and a heart test (EKG) to make sure it's safe for you to participate. The entire process typically takes several hours across one or more visits.

Brain imaging to detect inflammation in neurological diseases

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)