Platelet reactivity in mild cognitive impairment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Platelet reactivity and neurovascular function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
IRAS ID
347178
Contact name
Gabriella Rossetti
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This project aims to understand how platelets, the tiny cells in our blood responsible for clotting, are linked to dementia. While platelets are crucial for preventing bleeding by forming blood clots when needed, they can sometimes become too reactive, leading to micro blockages (thrombosis) in blood vessels and impairing vascular function (Ruggeri, 2002:10.1038/nm1102-1227). Indeed, it has been shown that people with dementia have higher levels of platelet activity markers (Quinn et al., 2011:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04403.x). In some cases, platelet reactivity predicts dementia development more reliably than well-known risk factors like cholesterol or body weight (Ramos-Cejudo et al., 2022:10.1161/JAHA.121.023918). However, it is not understood exactly how platelets affect brain function; whether platelets cause changes in the brain, or whether they change in response to brain changes.
Aligning with the above, our recent imaging research has shown that platelet reactivity directly affects how well blood flows in the brain and even how well people perform on memory tasks. We found, using MRI brain scans, that in older adults, those with more active platelets had smaller blood flow responses in their brains when they were asked to do cognitive tasks (Rossetti et al., 2024:10.1101/2024.05.31.596788). We also established a correlation between active platelets and worse memory performance. This is the first time platelet function (specifically reactivity) has been linked to brain blood vessel health and cognitive function.
Building upon this novel finding, it is important to understand how platelet reactivity affects brain function over time and how platelet reactivity changes in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that represents a transitional state between healthy ageing and dementia. But first, we need to establish whether the relationship seen in healthy adults exists in MCI, determine how to best recruit people with MCI, and ensure our research design includes input from patients and the public.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0010
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion