RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Correlation Between Cognition and Neuroimaging in TIA Patients

This study aims to understand the link between mini-strokes (TIAs) and challenges with thinking and memory. While stroke is known to affect thinking, mini-strokes were thought to cause no lasting damage. However, more and more, we're seeing people experience issues after a TIA. This research will use special brain scans (MRI) to look for subtle, long-term changes in the brain after a TIA. We'll compare these brain changes with results from thinking and memory tests over several years. The goal is to see if even a mini-stroke can directly cause brain changes that affect how well people think, or if other health factors are more important. This could help us understand how to better support people after a TIA.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Hospital, Caen

Enrolment target

100

Start

17 Nov 2021

Estimated completion

15 May 2027

Transient Ischemic Accident

What is this study about?

When someone has a stroke, it's quite common for them to experience issues with their memory and thinking skills afterwards. About half of stroke survivors will face these challenges, and for some, it can significantly affect their daily independence. We usually link these problems to the damaged areas of the brain or the overall amount of brain tissue affected.

However, there's growing interest in people who have had a mini-stroke, also known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). By definition, the symptoms of a TIA are temporary, lasting less than 24 hours, and initial brain scans don't always show clear signs of damage. Despite this, some individuals report ongoing difficulties with their thinking after a TIA. Currently, we don't fully understand why these problems happen. It could be due to subtle brain changes caused by the TIA itself, or it might be related to other health issues that also increase the risk of a TIA and can affect thinking, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

This study, called Cog-TIA, is designed to investigate this puzzle. We want to find out if a TIA can cause long-lasting, but perhaps very tiny, changes in the brain that can be seen on special MRI scans. We will then compare these brain changes with how well people perform on tests that measure memory, attention, and other thinking skills. By doing this, we hope to learn if the TIA itself directly contributes to changes in thinking abilities, or if other underlying health factors play a bigger role. Understanding this better could help doctors offer more targeted advice and support to people after a TIA.

Key takeaways

This study investigates if mini-strokes (TIAs) cause hidden, lasting brain changes.
It aims to link these brain changes to problems with thinking and memory.
Special MRI brain scans will be used at 1 and 3 years after a TIA.
The study involves people 60 and over who have had a TIA or are at risk of stroke.
Findings could help improve care and support for TIA patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for two main groups of people, all aged 60 or over. The first group has had a mini-stroke (TIA). To join, your TIA symptoms must have lasted less than 24 hours, and an MRI scan done shortly after your TIA shouldn't have shown any new brain damage. You also need to have agreed to be part of the larger 'Normandy-Stroke' study.

The second group is a 'comparison group' who have not had a TIA. To be part of this group, you must also be aged over 60 and be taking part in another study called 'Medit-AGEING'. You should have one or more health issues that can increase your risk of a stroke, like high blood pressure. You also need to be happy for your health information to be used for this Cog-TIA study.

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you can't have an MRI scan, or if you have certain other brain or mental health conditions such as dementia, a brain tumour, or a previous stroke. If you're currently in prison, receiving certain types of psychiatric care, or unable to give your consent, you wouldn't be able to participate either.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 60 years old or older?
Have you had a mini-stroke (TIA) with symptoms lasting less than 24 hours?
Did a brain scan shortly after your TIA not show new damage?
Are you already part of the 'Normandy-Stroke' study?
Can you safely have an MRI scan?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, your participation will be linked to your involvement in the ongoing Normandy-Stroke project. You will have special and detailed MRI brain scans at the same times you are scheduled to have your thinking and memory tests for the Normandy-Stroke study – typically one year and three years after your mini-stroke. These MRI scans involve lying still in a scanner for a period, which allows doctors to look very closely at different parts and structures of your brain, like the hippocampus (important for memory). There aren't any extra medical procedures involved beyond these scans and the existing memory and thinking tests you're already doing as part of the Normandy-Stroke study. The overall duration of your involvement in the Cog-TIA part of the study will be for the period covered by these follow-up assessments.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of taking part in this study is contributing to a better understanding of how mini-strokes (TIAs) affect brain health and thinking over time. This could lead to improved care and support for future patients. There are minimal risks associated with the study participation itself, as it mainly involves MRI scans, which are generally safe and don't use radiation, and existing cognitive tests. However, some people might find lying still in an MRI scanner uncomfortable or feel a bit anxious. Remember, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Caen University Hospital
Verified postcode
Caen, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a TIA?

A TIA, or mini-stroke, is like a stroke but symptoms only last a short time, usually less than 24 hours, and don't cause permanent damage on initial scans.

Will I receive any new medicine in this study?

No, this study does not involve giving any new medicines. It focuses on brain scans and thinking tests.

What is an MRI scan?

An MRI scan uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body, including your brain. It's safe and doesn't use X-rays.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Your involvement will align with your follow-up appointments for the Normandy-Stroke study, typically for one and three years after your TIA.

Will I get to see my scan results?

The focus of this study is research, not individual diagnosis. Detailed findings will be analysed by the research team as a whole, but you can discuss general findings with your doctor.

How to find out more

Romain SCHNECKENBURGER, MD

schneckenburger-r@chu-caen.fr 0231065298 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.