Detecting Fatigue From Voice in Generalised Myasthenia Gravis

Study Purpose

The goal of this observational study is to learn if computer analysis of voice recordings can detect a type of exhaustion called "central fatigue" in adults with generalised myasthenia gravis. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can advanced voice analysis accurately tell when participants are experiencing deep exhaustion based on how they speak? 2. How easy and acceptable is voice-based fatigue monitoring for people with myasthenia gravis? Participants will: 1. Record themselves reading short passages and answering questions out loud twice daily (morning and evening), twice a week, for 4 weeks. 2. Answer brief questionnaires about their energy levels, mood, and myasthenia gravis symptoms during each session. 3. Use their own devices (computer, tablet, or smartphone) to complete all study activities online from home.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Observational
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Adults ≥18 years old.
  • - Self-reported generalised Myasthenia Gravis diagnosis confirmed by healthcare provider for ≥6 months.
  • - Disease stability for ≥6 months (no hospitalisations, medication changes, or significant symptom worsening) - English as first language.
  • - Residence in US or UK.
  • - Vision adequate for screen reading (with aid or correction if necessary) - Access to internet-connected device with compatible browser and microphone.
  • - Adequate internet connectivity (≥5 Mbps download, ≥3 Mbps upload) - Ability to complete twice-daily assessments during specified time windows.
  • - Signed electronic informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Pure ocular Myasthenia Gravis.
  • - Diagnosed mild cognitive impairment or dyslexia.
  • - Speech or hearing impairments affecting voice recording.
  • - Unable to provide credible diagnostic information (healthcare provider diagnosis, antibody test results, current medications) - Major inconsistencies in reported medical history.
- Unsigned informed consent

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT07033559
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Thymia Limited
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Alexandra L Georgescu, PhD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Thymia Limited
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Industry
Overall Status Not yet recruiting
Countries
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Myasthenia Gravis Generalised
Additional Details

This study addresses a significant gap in understanding and measuring central fatigue in generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG), a debilitating symptom that differs from the characteristic muscle weakness fluctuations of the condition. Central fatigue encompasses mental and physical exhaustion originating in the central nervous system and remains poorly characterised with limited validated assessment tools. Study Rationale and Innovation: Recent developments in artificial intelligence and digital biomarkers have demonstrated potential for detecting fatigue-related changes in voice characteristics. This approach offers advantages over traditional assessment methods by providing objective, standardised measurements that can be collected remotely with minimal participant burden. Voice-based biomarkers may capture subtle physiological changes associated with central fatigue that are not readily apparent through conventional questionnaire-based assessments. Study Design and Methodology: This single-cohort observational study employs an intensive longitudinal monitoring design to capture the dynamic nature of fatigue fluctuations characteristic of gMG. The twice-daily assessment schedule (morning and evening sessions two days a week) over four weeks is designed to account for diurnal variation in fatigue symptoms commonly reported by MG patients. Each assessment session lasts approximately 10-15 minutes and includes standardised voice recording tasks alongside validated fatigue questionnaires. Voice recording activities consist of structured reading tasks and answering questions out loud, designed to elicit natural speech patterns while maintaining consistency across sessions and participants. Technical Approach: Voice data will be analysed using machine learning algorithms to identify acoustic features potentially associated with central fatigue states. [Note: Specific algorithmic approaches and feature extraction methods are proprietary and not detailed here]. The study uses triangulated participant self-reported fatigue assessments as ground truth labels for model training and validation. Data Collection and Management: All data collection occurs remotely through a secure web-based platform accessible via standard internet browsers. Participants use their personal devices (computers, tablets, or smartphones) equipped with microphone capabilities. The platform captures voice recordings, questionnaire responses, and relevant metadata including device specifications and environmental conditions that may affect recording quality. Sample Size Considerations: The target enrolment of 240 participants is designed to generate sufficient data points for robust machine learning model development while accounting for expected attrition and technical issues.

Contact Information

This trial has no sites locations listed at this time. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact the trial's primary contact:

Alexandra L Georgescu, PhD

[email protected]

0044 7533848443

For additional contact information, you can also visit the trial on clinicaltrials.gov.

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