This is an observational study to understand better the risk factors and progression of a leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). 500 participants will be enrolled and can expect to be on study for up to 5 years.
Unraveling the Early Phases of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)
Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common monogenic vascular dementia. Individuals with CADASIL are destined to develop vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), which can be studied in pre-symptomatic and prodromal disease stages to detect the earliest changes in biological fluids, neuroimaging, and the emerging phenotype of symptomatic VCID.
The objective of the proposed research is to exploit an autosomal dominant vascular dementia as a model to investigate specific features of VCID and to examine interactions with risk factors impacting the aging life course.
The study will enroll a total of 500 participants with a CADASIL family history who have had a genetic test for a NOTCH3 variant. Participants will complete: a clinical interview, a neurological exam, neurocognitive and behavior assessments, MRI, and a blood draw at each study visit. Participants will complete 3 in-person visits in total as part of this study: baseline, visit 2 (18 months after baseline), visit 3 (36 months after baseline). Additional contact will occur by phone, mail, email or the internet and will be referred to as "remote visits".