Evaluation of Brief Cognitive Measures in Neurocognitive Disorders

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Evaluation of Brief Cognitive Measures in Patients with Vascular and other Neurocognitive Disorders

  • IRAS ID

    155993

  • Contact name

    Hugh Markus

  • Contact email

    hsm32@medschl.cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

  • Research summary

    The aim of this study is to develop and validate a brief cognitive assessment battery for patients with small vessel disease (SVD), including CADASIL a genetic from of SVD, which can be used to 1) identify cognitive impairment in those who have had stroke and 2) can be used to differentiate the cognitive profile of patients with SVD and CADASIL, who have cognitive impairment, from patients with other dementias, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia. Cognitive functioning refers to a person s ability to think and processes information in ways that are relevant to everyday living, for instance, memory, planning and language. In clinical settings the availability of well-validated brief cognitive tests is important to screen for cognitive problems and quickly evaluate what type of difficulties a patient may have. For example, is the pattern of cognitive difficulties consistent with SVD or Alzheimer’s disease? In order to develop and validate a brief cognitive test that can accomplish this we will administer a series of short cognitive tasks to patients with SVD, CADASIL and other dementia’s. We will then use statistical approaches to identify which test are best to differentiate between those with SVD/CADASIL and other dementias. These tests will be conducted during routine clinic or hospital visits or in inpatient settings and will take between 30-45 minutes to complete. In addition, we will administer both a patient and carer questionnaire of depression and psychiatric symptoms, as these often co-occur with stroke/dementia and can influence cognitive performance. We propose that recruitment will begin in August 2014 and finish 18 months after we have received full ethical approval.

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/EE/1022

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 Aug 2014

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion