The PREVENT Study (Predementia Neuroimaging of Transient Ischemic Attack): A prospective longitudinal cohort study to identify biological and psychological predictors of cognitive decline in transient ischemic attack patients

What is this Study about?

PREVENT is recruiting healthy control participants for a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The aim of the study is to help doctors diagnose dementia sooner using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other biomarkers in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. We hypothesize that individuals who have had a TIA ("ministroke") are more likely to show early signs of dementia through higher rates of brain shrinkage and cognitive decline as compared to healthy individuals over a 5-year period.

All data will be analyzed as a group aggregate and the results of our study will be published in scientific journals. Identifying information will not be included in any publications.

What Will Happen in This Study?

If you agree to participate in this study and you meet all of the criteria, a study doctor will collect information from you and will review your health records by accessing your medical history. You will be given a parking pass and asked to come to the Foothills Hospital at your convenience for a 30 minute MRI and a 1 hour standardized cognitive test. The MRI and cognitive testing will be repeated again at 1, 3 and 5 years. Optionally, you may choose to consent to a one-time blood sample draw and/or lumbar puncture, which will allow us to detect genetic markers or proteins associated with dementia.

Who is Eligible to Participate in this Study?

To be eligible to participate in this study, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You are between the ages of 45-80
  • You do not have history of TIA or stroke
  • You are ambulatory
  • You are English-speaking or have a translator available
  • You are not deaf or hard of hearing
  • You have capacity and competence to provide consent and report symptoms
  • You do not have a contraindication to MR scanning, such as heart pacemaker, metallic foreign body, or aneurysm clip

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