Microparticles as biomarkers of cognitive decline
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Microparticles as biomarkers of cognitive decline and vascular dementia
IRAS ID
182420
Contact name
Isobel Ford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Dementia is a devastating condition of ageing. Vascular Dementia (VaD) is responsible for a fifth of cases and is associated with changes in the small blood vessels of the brain. Why some people develop VaD while others experience only mild changes in mental ability, or remain symptom-free into very old age, is unknown. There is no cure once symptoms are evident. A test to identify early signs and risk of progressing to vascular dementia would allow us to develop preventative therapies. Platelets are tiny blood cells that become sticky on encountering damaged blood vessels, forming clots. Microparticles break off from activated platelets and carry messengers that promote further damage and clotting, leading to repeated, temporary blockage to the blood supply. Microparticles are increased in small vessel disease and in stroke and could be good markers of early damage. We will compare platelet activity and microparticles in small blood samples from people with early brain changes, signs of VaD or normal mental function. The subjects will come from the Aberdeen Birth Cohort of people born in 1936, whose brain function and structure has been studied over the years.Information has already been obtained on their health and lifestyle, as well as detailed data from brain-scans and functional tests. We will include a group who have normal brain function and structure, and a group who have signs or symptoms of early cognitive decline or small vessel disease. The participants will be invited to a single visit to Aberdeen University premises. A small blood sample will be taken from an arm vein of the people who agree to take part. With these samples we will measure microparticles and markers using laboratory tests, including flow cytometry. We will look for associations between microparticle measurements with known risk factors and measurements of cognitive decline.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
15/NS/0057
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion