Brain inflammation in long-term progression of SVD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Brain inflammation and blood-brain barrier leakage in long-term progression of cerebral small vessel disease
IRAS ID
364721
Contact name
Hugh S. Markus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a common disease process that can lead to stroke and vascular dementia. It occurs in patients with typical cardiovascular risk factors and describes a progressive reduction in blood flow in deep brain blood vessels. There are few effective treatments.
Recent evidence has suggested that in SVD there is inflammation within the brain and excessive leakiness of the network of cells around the blood vessels (the blood-brain barrier). Whether these processes cause further disease progression is uncertain, but this is an important question to test as it might provide alternative options for treatment in SVD.
We have previously recruited patients with SVD to two phases of a research project investigating these process. The first phase involved measuring these processes using a PET/MRI scan, and the second tested whether they could be modified. We propose to test whether the inflammation and blood-brain barrier leakage measured on the the PET/MRI scan predicts SVD progression either by deterioration in memory or worsening severity of SVD on MRI scans. To do this, we will re-recruit the participants who had PET/MRI scans to undergo further cognitive screening tests and another MRI scan at least five years after initial recruitment.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
26/WA/0113
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion