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Neuroplasticity Biomarkers in Aphasia

Genetic and MRI Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity Predict Aphasia Recovery and Phenotypes

Who can join

Ages 40 to 90 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Ages 40-90
2. Right-handed (prior to stroke)
3. Proficient English speakers
4. History of a single ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory that is lateralized to the left or right (Aim 1) cerebral hemisphere.
5. Presence of aphasia (Aims 2-3)
6. Capacity to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent
7. Acute or subacute stroke at the time of Aim 1 enrollment; Stroke #12 months old (chronic) at the time of Aims 2-3 enrollment
8. Medically stable

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of significant medical or neurological disorder (other than stroke)
2. History of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders
3. Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise
4. Clinically significant and uncorrected vision or hearing loss
5. Anything other than standard of care stroke treatment such as Plavix, aspirin (81-300 mg daily), beta-blockers, diabetes medications or choles- terol-lowering agents, thrombolytics (e.g., tPA), anticoagulation agents such as Heparin, Warfarin/Coumadin

About the study

Patients with stroke frequently suffer from aphasia, a disorder of expressive and/or receptive language, that can lead to serious health consequences, including social isolation, depression, reduced quality of life, and increased caregiver burden. Aphasia recovery varies greatly between individuals, and likely relies upon the capacity for neuroplasticity, both at a systems level of reorganized brain networks and a molecular level of neuronal repair and plasticity. The proposed work will evaluate genetic and neural network biological markers of neuroplasticity associated with variability in aphasia, with a future goal to improve prognostics and identify therapeutic targets to reduce the long-term burdens of aphasia.

What is being tested

• Pseudoword learning paradigm task (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison · Participants: 90 · Started: Mar 17, 2025

Contact the study team

• Haley Dresang, PhD · Phone: (608) 890-0628

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06471127

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Aphasia
• Language
• Stroke

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.