UNITE (Ultralow field Neuroimaging In The Elderly)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating neurodegeneration using ultra-low-field MRI in older adults from memory services
IRAS ID
338898
Contact name
Dag Aarsland
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and affects over 50 million people worldwide and has a major impact on individuals, their families and social care. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key diagnostic biomarker, but current methods have limitations including high equipment and staffing costs, require travel for use, may be claustrophobic, and have contraindications relating to high magnetic fields which limit their widespread use. The advent of portable, low-cost MRI technology such as the Hyperfine scanner offers a promising new approach to identify neurodegenerative changes to stratify dementia subtype, rule out other intracranial pathology, and safely monitor responses to novel disease modifying therapies. In this multi-centre feasibility study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ultra-low-field MRI compared to existing high field MRI in assessing the brains of patients from memory clinics.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
25/NI/0010
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion