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PUFFINS Brain Health Study
Sponsor: University of Aberdeen
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.
Official title: Proving the Utility of Ultra-low Field MRI for Assessing Brain Health
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
50 Years - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
85
Start Date
2025-07
Completion Date
2027-05
Last Updated
2025-06-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Enrolment 3T MRI research scan
Enrolment research scan performed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
Enrolment Field-cycling Imaging research scan
Enrolment research scan performed with Field-Cycling Imaging scanner.
Enrolment ultra-low field MRI research scan
Enrolment research scan performed with ultra-low field MRI scanner
Follow up 3T MRI research scan
Follow up research scan performed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.
Follow up Field-cycling Imaging research scan
Follow up research scan performed with Field-Cycling Imaging scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.
Follow up ultra-low field MRI research scan
Follow up research scan performed with Ultra-low field MRI scanner, 18-months after baseline scans.
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.
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.
Locations (2)
Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
AMT Center, Univeristy of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, United Kingdom