The CODEC study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of neural mechanisms of Cognitive Decline after Cardiac Surgery with resting state fMRI: A Pilot study
IRAS ID
247211
Contact name
Diana Benton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN68065962
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cognitive impairment is common after cardiac surgery, particularly in older people. Up to six in every 10 patients who undergo cardiac surgery have some degree of cognitive impairment six months after their surgery. The mechanisms involved are unclear. Recent research in brain imaging has identified some regions of the brain involved in learning and memory which are working when the brain is “at rest”, that is when the subject is not performing an explicit cognitive task. These brain networks, so called “resting state networks”, represent the baseline, or default, mode of the brain. Brain imaging studies have shown that when the activity of resting state networks is reduced, patients are more likely to develop cognitive impairment. There is currently limited evidence to suggest whether cardiac surgery causes damage to resting state networks thus leading to cognitive impairment. We aim to investigate change in resting state networks in 20 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass using functional brain magnetic resonance imaging. This pilot study will help doctors to better understand the mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment following cardiac surgery and will aid in the development of preventive strategies and new treatments.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2121
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion