DISCOVER

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Reducing risk of stroke and DementIa In patientS with COVert cERebrovascular disease: a pilot and development study (DISCOVER)

  • IRAS ID

    342850

  • Contact name

    William Whiteley

  • Contact email

    william.whiteley@ed.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Edinburgh

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT06878430

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06878430

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 4 days

  • Research summary

    The DISCOVER study looks at people who have signs of small blood vessel disease in the brain, found by chance on brain scans. This condition is called covert cerebrovascular disease (CCD). The study aims to find the best ways to invite people with CCD to take part in research and follow up with them. The results will help plan future studies on treatments to lower the risk of stroke or dementia in people with CCD.

    We will send letters to 1,000 people who have CCD seen on routine brain scans but have never had a stroke, mini-stroke, or dementia. We expect about 10% to respond, giving us around 100 participants. At the same time, we will ask NHS Lothian doctors to help find more people with CCD.

    People who are interested in taking part can talk to the research team. They can choose to meet in person to give consent.

    Once enrolled, participants will:

    - Complete a questionnaire and some will have an interview about why they chose to take part or not.
    - Have simple tests to check memory, speech, and physical abilities.

    We will follow up with participants by phone at 3, 6, and possibly 12 months. We will also use their medical records to check for any cases of dementia, stroke, heart attack, or other health events.

  • REC name

    West of Scotland REC 3

  • REC reference

    25/WS/0109

  • Date of REC Opinion

    1 Aug 2025

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion