Actively Recruiting
Cognitive and Vascular Functioning Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Service Members and Veterans
Led by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center · Updated on 2025-09-26
300
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
17 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
W
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
J
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating the link between chronic traumatic cerebrovascular injury, cardiovascular risk factors, and cognitive problems related to traumatic brain injury (TBI), including vascular dementia. The study focuses on examining blood biomarkers related to brain injury, inflammation, and neurodegeneration, along with clinical and brain imaging data. The goal is to better understand these connections in Service Members and Veterans with a history of TBI or blast exposure. The study will enroll 300 participants who previously took part in intensive outpatient or natural history TBI studies. Participants will undergo interviews about PTSD and lifetime TBI history, neurological exams, cognitive testing, and multiple types of MRI scans to assess brain structure, cerebrovascular function, and blood-brain barrier integrity. Blood samples will be taken to analyze genetic and biomarker data related to vascular, inflammatory, and neuronal processes. Researchers will also review participants' medical records for cerebrovascular and psychological conditions. Participants will be evaluated at multiple time points, with comparisons made to past data collected during previous studies. Assessments include blood biomarker panels, cognitive performance tests, brain volume measurements, white matter lesion tracking, and cerebrovascular reactivity. The study will monitor changes over a three-year period to understand the progression of cognitive and vascular changes following TBI.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Cognitive and Vascular Functioning Following TBI
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Active duty uniformed Service Member or Veteran currently eligible for treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
- Ability to read, write, and speak English
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Prior comprehensive TBI evaluation at least 3 years ago with valid neuropsychological test results
- Consent to access prior research data and at least one prior blood specimen
- History of at least one mild, moderate, severe, or penetrating TBI more than 3 years before enrollment (for TBI group)
- History of military deployment with low blast exposure (<10 blasts) (for low-blast control group)
- History of military deployment with significant blast exposure (≥10 blasts) (for high-blast control group)
You will not qualify if you...
- Disabling neurologic or psychological disorders such as autism, cerebral palsy, developmental disorder, stroke, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, vascular malformation, pre-injury epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorder
- Diabetes mellitus requiring drug treatment
- Hypertension requiring more than one antihypertensive drug to control blood pressure
- History of myocardial infarction or other systemic vascular diseases
- Diagnosis of dementia at initial assessment in prior studies
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person) for informed consent and eligibility assessment
Duration - 1 day
Participants undergo interviews, neurological examination, neuropsychological testing, and multiple MRI scans to assess cognitive and vascular function after traumatic brain injury.
1 visit (in-person) including interviews, neurological exam, neuropsychological testing, and MRI procedures
Duration - 1 day
Participants provide blood samples for analysis of genetic markers and various vascular, inflammatory, and neuronal biomarkers.
1 visit (in-person) for research blood draw
Duration - 3 years
Participants’ previously collected data and new assessments are compared over time to monitor changes in cognitive performance, biomarkers, and brain imaging over a 3-year period.
Periodic assessments over 3 years; exact visit schedule depends on study protocol
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20889
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sara M Lippa, PhD
M
Megan E Glazer, M.S.
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
Similar Trials
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here