CHARISMA v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cerebral haemodynamic analysis in relation to risk factors for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (CHARISMA)
IRAS ID
328794
Contact name
Maria-Eleni Dounavi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Vascular risk factors (for example raised blood pressure) play a key role in the development of cognitive impairment and dementia. A recent study reported that up to 40% of dementia cases might be preventable with timely lifestyle modifications. Ongoing studies investigating the impact of lifestyle changes and blood pressure lowering medication on the risk of future dementia, show promising results, especially at early stages, even before people develop symptoms. Furthermore, studies by our group in midlife populations without any cognitive problems, have shown that the brain at this age does not show prominent structural changes, however, changes in blood flow have been found.
The main aim of the current study is to investigate in more detail the blood flow pattern in the brain at midlife with new brain imaging methods. Along with that, we will examine brain vascular measures and investigate the connection between brain blood flow, brain blood vessels and dementia risk factors. As part of this study we will develop and test a new brain scanning protocol, which could be used in future studies assessing if lifestyle, vascular and other treatments show benefits on brain function.
For this study, we will recruit 100 healthy middle-aged participants with both high and low risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and aim for approximately 50% in each group. The calculated time commitment per participant will be approximately 5 hours on a single day visit to Cambridge. The visit will involve: informed consent, blood sampling, lifestyle questionnaires, physical assessment, brain scanning and cognitive tests.
By the end of this project several potential early new imaging biomarkers will have been identified. These findings will inform our understanding of vascular changes occurring in the brain in relation to dementia risk, future clinical trials focused on early disease stages, novel therapies as well as new studies.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0256
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion