What is the Purpose of this Study?
The purpose of this research is to better understand how vascular health and abnormal white matter signals in your brain affect your thinking. We use the term "vascular" to talk about your blood vessels. White matter is brain tissue made up of nerve fibers that allow brain cells to quickly send and receive messages. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) can show us that there is damage to the blood vessels in your brain (vascular brain injury). This can result in something called vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). WMH result from injury to small blood vessels in the brain which are important for moving oxygen and nutrients to cells of the brain. Results from this study will improve our understanding of how poor vascular health causes WMH and VCID. We hope that these findings will lead to treatments aimed to reduce VCID. Participation in this study will involve completing three physical, neurological, and cognitive examinations, blood draws, and brain MRIs - one baseline visit, and two follow up visits at approximately 18 and 36 months.
Eligibility
Between the ages of 65 and 90
You have noted a decline in your memory or thinking over the last 3 years
You are of African American, Hispanic/Latino, or European ancestry.
You may choose to have a study partner participate in this study with you, to help answer questions about your health, but it is not required.
Where can I participate?
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
More about this Clinical Trial
What is the full name of this clinical trial?
Diverse Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia : White Matter Lesion Etiology of Dementia in Diverse Populations