PUFFINS Brain Health Study

Summary

Small vessel disease (SVD) is a major cause of stroke and contributor to dementia cases. As work continues to develop new treatments to address the impact of SVD, new imaging techniques are needed to identify and track the progression of brain changes that occur with SVD. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the gold standard to diagnose poor brain health due to small vessel disease. However, current MRI systems are expensive and complex to operate, and so access is limited.

Low-field MRI technology, operating at magnetic field strengths many times lower than conventional MRI, can make brain imaging much more cost-effective and accessible. However, further work is needed to develop low-field MRI towards clinically feasible assessments of brain health. The University of Aberdeen hosts a unique network of researchers and imaging technologies that is now making it possible to test and develop different low-field MRI approaches towards solving key healthcare challenges.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of two distinct approaches, field-cycling imaging (FCI) and ultra-low field MRI (ULF-MRI), to detect brain changes linked with small vessel disease. Automated methods will be developed to analyse images and extract measurements that detect and track progression of disease severity.

Conditions

• Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Interventions

OTHER

Follow up ultra-low field MRI research scan

Follow up research scan performed with Ultra-low field MRI scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.

OTHER

Enrolment cognitive assessment interview

Enrolment interview performed to complete cognitive assessment scoring of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, EQ-5D, Trail making test, Animal naming test, controlled oral word association test, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test.

OTHER

Follow up cognitive assessment interview

Follow up interview performed to complete cognitive assessment scoring of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, EQ-5D, Trail making test, Animal naming test, controlled oral word association test, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. Performed 18-months after baseline interview.

OTHER

Enrolment 3T MRI research scan

Enrolment research scan performed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

OTHER

Enrolment Field-cycling Imaging research scan

Enrolment research scan performed with Field-Cycling Imaging scanner.

OTHER

Enrolment ultra-low field MRI research scan

Enrolment research scan performed with ultra-low field MRI scanner

OTHER

Follow up 3T MRI research scan

Follow up research scan performed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.

OTHER

Follow up Field-cycling Imaging research scan

Follow up research scan performed with Field-Cycling Imaging scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• NHS Grampian

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Aberdeen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mary Joan MacLeod · University of Aberdeen

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-17

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2027-05-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations