Determinants of Incident Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on RecoverY

Launched by MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · Jun 3, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The DISCOVERY study is focused on understanding how different factors affect thinking and memory abilities in people who have had a stroke. Researchers want to find out what contributes to cognitive changes, or declines in mental abilities, after strokes caused by blood clots, bleeding in the brain, or other related issues. This information can help doctors identify patients who may be at risk for dementia, which is a significant decline in memory and thinking that can impact daily life. By studying how various aspects of a stroke and individual health factors are connected to brain recovery, the goal is to develop better treatments for stroke patients in the future.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 18 years old and have been hospitalized for an acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. They should also be able to participate in a visit within six weeks after their stroke and be fluent in English or Spanish. If you join the study, you can expect to undergo assessments of your thinking and memory, along with brain imaging and blood tests. This research could help identify early signs of cognitive decline and lead to personalized treatment plans that improve recovery outcomes for stroke survivors.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age ≥18 years
• • 2. Admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)
• • 3. Radiographic confirmatory evidence of: (1) AIS (based on a focal area of restricted diffusion on MRI), (2) non-traumatic ICH (based on evidence of acute parenchymal hemorrhage CT or brain MRI) or (3) non-traumatic acute aSAH (based on evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT or MRI and evidence of aneurysm on CT angiography, MR angiography, or conventional catheter-based angiography)
• • 4. Able to complete baseline visit in person or by phone within 6 weeks of stroke onset
• • 5. Able to provide informed consent by self or proxy
• • 6. Fluent in English or Spanish prior to stroke onset
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Documented history of pre-stroke dementia or fails dementia pre-screen
• • 2. Concurrently enrolled into a study that is not approved under the DISCOVERY Co-Enrollment Policy
• • 3. Unable to complete study protocol (advanced directives such as comfort measures only, or inability to complete the study due to severe medical/behavioral co-morbidities), as determined by physician investigator during screening process
• Additional exclusion criteria for Tier 2 participants:
• • 4. Contraindication to MRI: presence of electrically, magnetically, or mechanically activated implants (such as cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, implanted pumps); or metallic clips in the brain
• Additional exclusion criteria for Tier 3 participants:
• • 5. Age \<50 years
• • 6. Biologically female individuals who are pregnant or seeking to become pregnant
• • 7. Known to have one of the following genetic conditions which can increase the risk of developing cancer: Cowden disease, Lynch syndrome, hypogammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Down's syndrome.