UK consensus on pre-clinical vascular cognitive impairment functional outcomes assessment: questionnaire and workshop proceedings

Aisling McFall, Tuuli M. Hietamies, Ashton Bernard, Margaux Aimable, Stuart M. Allan, Philip M. Bath, Gaia Brezzo, Roxana O. Carare, Hilary V. Carswell, Andrew N. Clarkson, Gillian Currie, Tracy D. Farr, Jill H. Fowler, Mark Good, Atticus H. Hainsworth, Catherine Hall, Karen Horsburgh, Rajesh Kalaria, Patrick Kehoe, Catherine LawrenceMalcolm Macleod, Barry W. McColl, Alison McNeilly, Alyson A. Miller, Scott Miners, Vincent Mok, Michael O'Sullivan, Bettina Platt, Emily S. Sena, Matthew Sharp, Patrick Strangeward, Stefan Szymkowiak, Rhian M. Touyz, Rebecca C. Trueman, Claire White, Chris McCabe, Lorraine M. Work (Lead / Corresponding author), Terence J. Quinn

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    Abstract

    Assessment of outcome in preclinical studies of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is heterogenous. Through an ARUK Scottish Network supported questionnaire and workshop (mostly UK-based researchers), we aimed to determine underlying variability and what could be implemented to overcome identified challenges. Twelve UK VCI research centres were identified and invited to complete a questionnaire and attend a one-day workshop. Questionnaire responses demonstrated agreement that outcome assessments in VCI preclinical research vary by group and even those common across groups, may be performed differently. From the workshop, six themes were discussed: issues with preclinical models, reasons for choosing functional assessments, issues in interpretation of functional assessments, describing and reporting functional outcome assessments, sharing resources and expertise, and standardization of outcomes. Eight consensus points emerged demonstrating broadly that the chosen assessment should reflect the deficit being measured, and therefore that one assessment does not suit all models; guidance/standardisation on recording VCI outcome reporting is needed and that uniformity would be aided by a platform to share expertise, material, protocols and procedures thus reducing heterogeneity and so increasing potential for collaboration, comparison and replication. As a result of the workshop, UK wide consensus statements were agreed and future priorities for preclinical research identified.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1402-1414
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
    Volume40
    Issue number7
    Early online date9 Mar 2020
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2020

    Keywords

    • Dementia
    • methodology
    • outcomes
    • questionnaire
    • vascular cognitive impairment

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