Can a Brain-Stiffness scan spot a treatable form of dementia?
NCT ID NCT02230124
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), a special MRI that measures tissue stiffness, can distinguish normal pressure hydrocephalus from brain atrophy. Current scans often cannot tell the two apart, leading to missed or delayed diagnosis. Researchers will compare MRE results in 35 adults with suspected hydrocephalus before and after a spinal fluid drainage procedure to see if the imaging signature matches clinical improvement.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) — a special MRI technique that measures brain stiffness
- What this could lead to
- If MRE proves reliable, it could offer a non-invasive way to diagnose normal pressure hydrocephalus and distinguish it from other causes of dementia, helping more people get the right treatment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (35 people) testing a new imaging method. It may not prove accurate enough for routine use, and the technique requires specialized equipment not widely available.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
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