Blood Brain Barrier Permeability in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Blood Brain Barrier Permeability, Inflammation and Sleep in Mild Cognitive Impairment (BBB-MCI study).
IRAS ID
239350
Contact name
Narelle Berry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There is evidence of a link between cardiovascular disease and dementia, potentially due to impaired blood vessel function leading to decreased cerebral blood flow, increased cerebral inflammation and leakage of the blood brain barrier (BBB). At what stage BBB breakdown occurs in the human brain and whether it contributes to cognitive impairment/decline remains controversial. If we can identify points for early intervention, we could develop preventative strategies to improve cognitive function or slow cognitive decline.\nThe purpose of this study is to identify new methods for assessing BBB leakage and brain inflammation. Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) will be used for BBB assessment and quantitative Magnetization Transfer (qMT) will be used for brain inflammation. Participants will undergo a 60-minute MRI scan twice, with 2 weeks between scans to assess the reliability of these measures. We will also test whether we can detect biomarkers in the blood that are associated with BBB leakage and inflammation.\nSleep and sleep deprivation have been associated with cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment and may also be associated with inflammation. We will include objective and subjective measures of sleep behaviours to determine if sleep is associated with the MRI measures of brain structure and function and circulating markers of inflammation.\nThirty participants aged between 60 and 85 years (n=15 with mild cognitive impairment and n=15 healthy age matched controls with normal cognitive function) will be recruited from the general public. \nParticipant involvement will include: (1) telephone screen; (2) consent, screening and baseline visit; (3) two visits to MRI facility for a blood test and MRI scans (4) wearing an Actiwatch for 2 weeks to measure activity and sleep. Participant visits will be to designated assessment rooms within clinical trials units and the MRI facility at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). Total participant commitment for the study will be approximately 1 month.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
18/NS/0087
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion