NCT06390930

Effects of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Neuroplasticity in MS

Investigating the Effects of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Neuroplasticity in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 22 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study seeks to explore changes in the neural pathways and arm function following a breathing intervention in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population. The breathing intervention, known as Acute Intermittent Hypoxia (AIH), involves breathing brief bouts of low levels of oxygen. Research has found AIH to be a safe and effective intervention resulting in increased ankle strength in people with MS. Here, the study examines arm and hand function before and after AIH. In order to better understand the brain and spinal cord response to AIH, the investigators will measure muscle response, and signals sent from the brain to the arm muscles before and after AIH.

Detailed description

While AIH has shown potential in enhancing neuroplasticity in people with spinal cord injury (SCI), it has yet to be studied extensively in MS. Preliminary research in the MS population demonstrates that a single session of AIH enhances motor output, increasing voluntary muscle strength by as much as 15-20% within 60 minutes. This study will explore potential mechanisms of AIH in MS using measurements of arm function, as well as examination of corticospinal and spinal motoneuron excitability. Over the past decade, studies have found that brief episodes of modest oxygen reduction (termed AIH) can rapidly enhance neural plasticity in persons with incomplete SCI. AIH activates the serotonergic pathway, leading to increased activity of serotonin receptors and the synthesis of plasticity-related proteins. This plasticity is manifested by a rapid increase in voluntary muscle strength, emerging within 60-90 minutes, in both lower- and upper-limb muscles. The actions of AIH appear to be biologically linked to systems designed to preserve breathing systems that are impaired by damage to the central nervous system (CNS).

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
• Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Acute Intermittent Hypoxia	During AIH, the participant will be equipped with a non-rebreathing face mask, and provided with the AIH intervention. The AIH intervention involves alternating breathing cycles. One cycle involves breathing air with lower oxygen concentration (9-10% oxygen) for 30 and 90 seconds, followed by breathing normal room air (21% oxygen) for a similar duration. This cycle is repeated 15 times in one session. Blood oxygen and heart rate are monitored throughout.
OTHER	Sham Acute Intermittent Hypoxia	During Sham AIH, the participant will be equipped with a non-rebreathing face mask, and provided with the AIH intervention. The Sham AIH intervention involves alternating breathing cycles. One cycle involves breathing air closely resembling room air (\~21% oxygen) for 30 and 90 seconds, followed by breathing normal room air (21% oxygen) for a similar duration. This cycle is repeated 15 times in one session. Blood oxygen and heart rate are monitored throughout.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2027-07-01
• First posted: 2024-04-30
• Last updated: 2026-02-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States