7T COVID
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SARS-CoV-2 and Precursors of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias: An Ultrahigh Field (7T) MRI Study in a Diverse Multinational Cohort
IRAS ID
305969
Contact name
Akram A. Hosseini
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
We aim to determine whether changes in brain structure, function and connectivity are influenced by the underlying disease, whether imaging can be used to accurately differentiate between subtypes, and whether features on imaging can be used to predict long term consequences of COVID-19 on cognition (thinking ability).
We will use cutting edge brain scanning technology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure what goes wrong in different parts of the brain and the way groups of cells are damaged. We will link these changes to patients’ symptoms, examinations and their neuropsychological assessment scores. In addition, we study the markers, proteins and immunological reactions in the blood in relation to the findings on the MRI of the head. Since there is increasing appreciation of the importance of genes in determining diseases, we will also study the genes that can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or different dementia subtypes. The genes that we study are not proven to reliably predict developing future dementia and we study the risks of carrying the genes in relation to the changes on the MRI of the head and other immunological markers in the blood and susceptibility to COVID-19. In order to do the gene tests, we will isolate from blood the chemical that contains the genetic code and that is called DNA.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0341
Date of REC Opinion
2 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion