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NCT Number: NCT06878430

Reducing Risk of Stroke and DementIa In patientS With COVert cERebrovascular Disease

The purpose of the DISCOVER study is to pilot acceptable approaches to people with covert cerebrovascular disease (CCD) and their follow-up. This is the first step in designing efficient randomised trials of treatments to reduce the risk of stroke or dementia in people with CCD.

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Key information

Conditions

Covert Cerebrovascular Disease Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Myopathies, Structural, Congenital Myopathy, Central Core Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

DISCOVER is a prospective cohort involving individuals with covert cerebrovascular disease (CCD) in NHS Lothian. Participants will be recruited through electronic health records and clinician collaborators. Participants will be monitored at 3 and 6 months and where possible 12 months to assess cognitive, functional, and vascular event outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • People who, at the time the letter is prepared or are identified by a clinician
  • Age ≥ 65 years
  • Have no known history of:
  • Stroke or TIA
  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Metastatic cancer (or non-meningioma brain tumour).
  • A CT or MRI scan report ≤5 years before study start date with of one or more of:
  • Cerebral small vessel disease
  • Deep old ischaemic stroke
  • Cortical old ischaemic stroke

Exclusion criteria

  • Text of brain scan report unreadable
  • Do not consent to take part in study procedures
  • Unable to consent
  • Unable to communicate by email, letter or telephone through language, speech disability or lack of address
  • Unlikely to survive one year past enrolment in judgement of the study investigator

Treatment and study plan

Functional and Cognitive scores

Other

We will collect information about prior neurological symptoms, including prior symptoms suggestive of TIA or stroke, cognitive or motor symptoms, blood pressure and other known vascular risk factors, medicines, frailty, functional status, education, and employment status We will collect a baseline validated function and cognitive score, and take a sample of speech. Speech will be measured at assessment, in collaboration with the NeuroCARE Clinical and Digital Measures Module (22/SS/0010 IRAS No. 310885).

Primary outcomes

  1. Functional scores

    Time frame: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment

    The investigators will measure day-to-day function with the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale, which is a 20-item assessment of daily living abilities for dementia. Each activity has 5 statement options (a - e) which refer to a different level of ability.

  2. Cognitive scores

    Time frame: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment

    The investigators will measure concerns or anxiety about covert cerebrovascular disease using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. It is a 10-minute test that assesses seven areas of cognition for a total possible score of 30 points. A score of 25 or less is indicative of cognitive impairment.

  3. Speech samples

    Time frame: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment

    Speech will be measured at assessment, in collaboration with the NeuroCARE Clinical and Digital Measures Module (22/SS/0010 IRAS No. 310885).

  4. Vascular events

    Time frame: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment

    At each assessment the investigators will ask about dementia, mild cognitive impairment and stroke symptoms.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

William Whiteley

CONTACT

[email protected]

+44(131) 4659602

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Other

Collaborators

  • NHS Lothian

Registry information

Official study title

Reducing Risk of Stroke and DementIa In patientS With COVert cERebrovascular Disease: a Pilot and Development Study

Acronym: DISCOVER

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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