Covert Cerebrovascular DiseaseDISCOVERNCT06878430
Reducing Risk of Stroke and DementIa In patientS With COVert cERebrovascular Disease
An observational study of Covert Cerebrovascular Disease, run by University of Edinburgh.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Covert Cerebrovascular Disease
- What is being tested?
- Functional and Cognitive scores
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Study population: People aged 65 years or older living in Scotland, UK
Who may be able to join
- 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
Show all 12Show fewer
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Reducing Risk of Stroke and DementIa In patientS With COVert cERebrovascular Disease: a Pilot and Development Study
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.
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Covert Cerebrovascular Disease
- Being tested
- Functional and Cognitive scores
- Keywords
- ccd
- Medical subject headings
- Myopathy, Central Core
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Functional and Cognitive scoresOther
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).
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Functional scores
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.
Measured: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment
Cognitive scores
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.
Measured: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment
Speech samples
Speech will be measured at assessment, in collaboration with the NeuroCARE Clinical and Digital Measures Module (22/SS/0010 IRAS No. 310885).
Measured: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment
Vascular events
At each assessment the investigators will ask about dementia, mild cognitive impairment and stroke symptoms.
Measured: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Mar 2025
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Covert Cerebrovascular DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of EdinburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Edinburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- NHS Lothian
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06878430
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AC25041
- Other IDs
- HIPS/23/02
- Acronym
- DISCOVER
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Published results will not contain any personal data that could allow identification of individual participants.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reducing Risk of Stroke and DementIa In patientS With COVert cERebrovascular Disease: a Pilot and Development Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06878430
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DISCOVER / AC25041
- Conditions
- Covert Cerebrovascular Disease
- Keywords
- ccd
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of EdinburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- NHS Lothian
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
- Study population
- People aged 65 years or older living in Scotland, UK
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- People who, at the time the letter is prepared or are identified by a clinician
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Functional and Cognitive scoresWe 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). | Other | – |
Primary outcome
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.
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.
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).
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.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Published results will not contain any personal data that could allow identification of individual participants.
Related trials for Covert Cerebrovascular Disease
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Multimodal Assessment and Prognosis in Disorders of Consciousness After Severe Brain Injury (CyDoC-MAP)
Consciousness Disorders, Persistent Vegetative State
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Stroke Prevention In Ischemic Stroke With Covert Atrial Fibrillation
Stroke, Ischemic Stroke
RecruitingObservational study
Prevalence of Attributable Etiology and Modifiable Stroke Risk Factors in Patients With Covert Brain Infarctions
Silent Stroke, Silent Cerebral Infarct
Recruiting
Stopping Cognitive Decline and Dementia by Fighting Covert Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases, Stroke
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Covert Cerebrovascular Disease, run by University of Edinburgh.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact William Whiteley (+44(131) 4659602, william.whiteley@ed.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Functional scores (time frame: At 3, 6 and 12 months following enrolment). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Sep 2026.