Hydrocephalus

This study looks at how safe and well a new adjustable valve system works for people with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain. About 126 patients will receive the valve to help drain excess fluid. The main goals are to see if the valve causes serious sid…

This program gives children with brain disorders like cerebral palsy or stroke access to umbilical cord blood infusions. The treatment uses donated cord blood cells to help repair brain damage. Kids up to age 26 with normal immune function may qualify. The goal is to improve symp…

This study tests whether a special ultrasound with a contrast dye can safely and effectively measure brain health in infants with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain. About 20 infants under 1.5 years old will receive an injection of the contrast agent th…

This study tests whether the ShuntCheck device can accurately tell if a shunt is flowing or blocked in people with normal pressure hydrocephalus who have no symptoms. The device uses a gentle heat sensor on the skin to check flow. 50 adults with shunts will be tested during routi…

This study compares a device called ShuntCheck, which uses heat to measure fluid flow through a shunt, to the standard nuclear medicine test for detecting blockages. Researchers will enroll 20 adults aged 40 and older with normal pressure hydrocephalus who have a shunt and are su…

This study is testing a new blood test that can diagnose single-gene disorders in unborn babies using a sample from the mother. The test looks at fetal DNA found in the mother's blood, which is safer than traditional invasive methods that carry a small risk of miscarriage. Resear…

This study is testing a small, wireless device that sticks to the skin over a shunt tube to see if fluid is flowing inside. It uses gentle warmth to measure temperature changes without breaking the skin. The trial includes 55 children and adults with hydrocephalus who already hav…

This study tests a new MRI technique to measure how cerebrospinal fluid flows in the brain. Researchers will compare 50 healthy volunteers and patients with conditions like Alzheimer's disease or normal pressure hydrocephalus. The goal is to improve diagnosis and understanding of…

This study is testing a new way to detect motor delays in infants using a special play mat with sensors and a smart toy. Researchers will watch how babies move and interact with the toy, then use AI to spot early signs of disability. The goal is to create an easy, objective tool …

This study tests whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tACS can improve memory and thinking in people with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and related conditions. Two hundred participants will receive either real or sh…

This study follows 500 people with neurocysticercosis, a brain infection caused by the pork tapeworm. Participants receive standard antiparasitic drugs and anti-inflammatories. Researchers will track their health over many years to understand what factors lead to better or worse …

This study tests whether using ultrasound to guide placement of a brain drain (external ventricular drain) in adults with hydrocephalus can improve accuracy and reduce the number of needle passes needed. Ten participants will have the drain placed with the SOLOPASS® ultrasound sy…

This study is testing a device called Intellidrop that automatically drains fluid from the spine during a standard test for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The device monitors pressure and controls drainage, which may reduce errors and make the process more comfortable for p…

This study looks at the best way to treat a fluid pocket (pseudomeningocele) that can form under the scalp after brain surgery. It compares doing nothing active (just watching and caring for the wound) with doing a procedure like draining the fluid or another surgery. The goal is…

This study is creating a large database of information about children with hydrocephalus (a condition where fluid builds up in the brain). Researchers will collect details on diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes from multiple hospitals. The goal is to better understand the disease…

This study follows 140 people with early signs of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) to see if brain scans and fluid tests can predict who will get worse and need shunt surgery. Participants include those with mild symptoms, those with clear NPH, and healthy volunteers. The goal…

This study is investigating why some patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (a condition that causes walking problems, memory loss, and incontinence) improve after a shunt surgery that drains extra fluid from the brain. Researchers will analyze proteins in the spinal fluid o…

This study looks at whether certain proteins in spinal fluid can predict which adults with chronic hydrocephalus will improve after a shunt surgery. About 150 participants will have their fluid tested for amyloid and tau proteins, then tracked for changes in thinking, walking, an…

This study looks at how sleep apnea changes pressure in the brain and belly during sleep in people with normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Researchers want to see if these pressure changes affect how well a surgically placed shunt (a tube that drains fluid from the brain) works. The …

This study is gathering information from 4500 people who have or will have brain surgery for conditions like aneurysms, tumors, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. The goal is to find patterns that help doctors predict how well someone will recover. By standardizing how outcomes a…

This study looks at 100 older adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) to find out why some get better after a shunt surgery and others do not. Researchers will use brain scans, blood tests, and wearable monitors to check for nerve damage and signs of dementia. The goal is…

This study tests a new wireless sensor called FlowSense, which is placed on the skin like a bandage to measure fluid flow in hydrocephalus patients with external drains. The goal is to see if it can accurately track drainage and pressure without needing X-rays or hospital equipme…

This study tests a non-invasive light-based device to measure blood flow and oxygen use in the brains of premature infants who have bleeding or fluid buildup. Researchers will compare these measurements in affected babies, those with other types of fluid buildup, and healthy newb…

This study is looking at 160 people who had a ruptured brain aneurysm and need a temporary drain. Researchers will measure glucose in their spinal fluid and blood daily for up to 14 days. The goal is to see if higher glucose levels are linked to needing a permanent shunt later. P…

This study is gathering information from 700 people with Parkinson's disease or similar conditions who experience freezing of gait—a sudden inability to move their feet while walking. Researchers will track symptoms, walking patterns, and falls over three years using questionnair…

This lab study uses leftover spinal fluid from 10 patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus to see if common numbing medicines form crystals. Researchers mix different drugs and watch for crystals over 60 minutes. The goal is to understand risks, not to treat patients directly.

This study looks at whether using a mix of brain scans, spinal fluid tests, and thinking/movement assessments can better diagnose idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and identify who will benefit from shunt surgery. Researchers will follow 116 adults aged 60+ with sus…

This study is testing a new device that aims to measure pressure inside the skull from the outside, avoiding the need for surgery. Currently, doctors must drill a hole in the skull to monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with conditions like traumatic brain injury or s…

This study looks at whether giving antibiotics for just 24 hours around the time of placing a special antibiotic-coated brain drain works as well as giving them for the whole time the drain is in place. The goal is to find the best way to prevent serious brain infections in peopl…

This study watches 148 adults with acute brain injury who have a drain in their head. Researchers will check fluid from the brain to see if changes in a substance called lactate can signal an infection early. The goal is to learn more, not to test a new treatment.