Markers of thinking and memory decline after spontaneous brain hemorrhage
Silent Brain Infarcts in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage as a Prognostic Biomarker for Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)
This project will test whether silent brain infarcts seen on MRI predict faster thinking and memory decline in adults who had a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 118 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rush University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT06836141 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The study will recruit about 118 adults with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and follow them for one year. Participants will receive cognitive testing during hospitalization and at 3, 6, and 12 months, brain MRI at hospitalization and 12 months, and blood draws at the same timepoints to measure inflammatory markers including suPAR. Investigators will compare patients with and without silent brain infarcts to see differences in baseline cognition, rate of cognitive decline, white matter hyperintensity volume progression using a novel 3-T MRI analysis, and systemic inflammation. The goal is to determine whether silent brain infarcts and suPAR are early, clinically useful biomarkers of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment after ICH.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–79 with primary spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, low-to-moderate severity (ICH score ≤2), no prior stroke or dementia, and not undergoing neurosurgical hematoma evacuation are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with high-severity ICH (ICH score >2), pre-existing dementia or prior stroke, those who require neurosurgical evacuation, or those unable to undergo MRI or attend follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify MRI and blood biomarkers that help predict which ICH patients are at higher risk of cognitive decline, enabling earlier monitoring or interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work in aging and ischemic stroke populations has linked silent infarcts, WMH progression, and suPAR to cognitive decline, but applying these markers specifically to spontaneous ICH patients is relatively novel and less well validated.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage * Age ≥ 18 and \< 80 years Exclusion Criteria: * ICH score \> 2 * Pre-existing dementia * Prior history of stroke * Neurosurgical evacuation of hematoma
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rajeev Garg, MD — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Amanda Sremac, BS
- Email: Amanda_C_Sremac@rush.edu
- Phone: 312-942-0593
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.