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NeuroCognition After Carotid Recanalization

Neurocognitive Impairment Assessment in Symptomatic Carotid Occlusion Recanalized Endovascularly

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04219774
Acronym
NIA-SCORE
Enrollment
25
Registered
2020-01-07
Start date
2020-05-01
Completion date
2024-03-14
Last updated
2025-05-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cognition Disorder, Occlusion Carotid, Stroke

Brief summary

Complete occlusion of the Internal carotid artery (ICA) by atherosclerotic disease (COICA) causes approximately 15%-25% of ischemic strokes in the carotid artery distribution. Patients treated with medical therapy have a 7%-10% risk of recurrent stroke per year for any stroke and a 5%-8% risk per year for ipsilateral ischemic stroke during the first 2 years after ICA occlusion. Internal carotid artery occlusion causes an estimated 61,000 first-ever strokes per year in the US an incidence more than twice the annual occurrence of ruptured intracranial aneurysms Additionally, 40% of subjects with COICA who present with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 70% of COICA who present with stroke have cognitive decline with increased risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's' disease (AD) with time (2,3). Symptomatic COICA subjects are at increased risk of developing cognitive impairment and progressive development of vascular dementia and AD with time. Our proposal leverages several compelling retrospective and prospective preliminary data from human to perform this exploratory trial with go/no-go criteria to proceed to a phase 3 based on the data generated

Detailed description

Study Design: Prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) study This is a phase 2 randomized single-center open label clinical trial with randomization of 1:1 to either best medical management vs. best medical management and endovascular revascularization of COICA. Screening, Enrolling, & Randomization: All subjects who presents to our tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of COICA will undergo full evaluation including 1) documenting previous history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and/or stroke; 2) cervical and brain CT angiography (CTA) to document complete occlusion; 3) CT perfusion (CTP) to assess for presence of penumbra evident by increased mean transient time (MTT) in the ipsilateral side of COICA; and 4) Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score. If any subject is found to have complete occlusion of COICA, evident of abnormal/prolongation of MTT on CTP, previous history of TIA and or stroke, and MoCA \<26 or abnormal response on another neuropsychological assessment preformed in the screening battery, then further evaluation is obtained including: MRI spectroscopy to assess for presence/absence of lactate in the ipsilateral watershed area (centrum semiovale), and size of ipsilateral hippocampus and amygdala, additional cognitive testing battery, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to document adequately the type of COICA the subject have (type A-D). If a subject meets all inclusion criteria (complete occlusion, MoCA \<26 and/or abnormal other neuropsychological test result, abnormal CTP) they will be randomized, after consent is obtained. If all inclusion criteria are met other than the CTP, they will be enrolled but not randomized. These subjects will only be eligible for best medical management- not surgical intervention. If any subject does not have complete occlusion or abnormal MoCA \>26 or other neuropsychological assessment, then the subject is excluded and no further testing needed (see exclusion criteria). If the subject meets all inclusion criteria, then a baseline of complete neurological testing, full demographics, CTA or MRA, CTP, MoCA, additional neurological testing, MRI spectroscopy and DSA are obtained and subject is randomized 1:1 to either best medical management or best medical management + endovascular balloon angioplasty and stenting. Follow up clinic visits are arranged at 6 and 12 months. Repeat testing of MoCA and additional cognitive testing battery are done at these clinical follow-up visits (6 and 12 months). MRI of the brain and is done at 6 and 12 months. DSA is performed at 1 year follow-up for intervention subjects to assess brain bio-markers and revascularization respectively.

Interventions

Endovascular angioplasty of the occluded carotid using balloon angioplasty and reconstruction with stents: coronary stents distally (Rebel, Boston Scientific; Vision, Abbott Vascular) and carotid stents proximal (Acculink and Xcat, Abbott Vascular) Patients will stay on their aspirin 325 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg

DRUGAspirin and Clopidogrel (maximal medical Therapy)

Best Medical Management: daily dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin: 325 mg p.o. qd and Clopidogrel: 75 mg p.o. qd), optimization of systolic blood pressure (120 -140 mmHg), and smoking cessation.

Sponsors

Duke University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) study

Intervention model description

1:1 randomization, 1 non-randomized active comparator arm

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥ 21 * Complete occlusion of cervical ICA on imaging studies (MRA or CTA) and confirmed with DSA * History of TIA or stroke * Increased MTT and/or time to peak (TTP) on CT perfusion as defined as T Max threshold of \> 10cc \> 4 seconds in the territory of the occluded carotid specifically in the MCA territory when compared to the opposite unaffected hemisphere (not required for observational cohort) * All occlusion is due to atherosclerotic disease * MoCA \< 26 or abnormal result on another test in the battery (abnormal defined as 1.5 SD below age/ gender/ education matched norms). * Baseline MoCA assessed by the neurosurgery team or neuropsychology team * Failed best medical treatment (defined below) * Class A and B on COICA Classification * Study team able to gain consent from subject or legal adult representative (LAR)

Exclusion criteria

* Non-atherosclerotic occlusive disease that may have caused the occlusion, including moyamoya, dissection, trauma or other causes * Tandem occlusion * No evidence of penumbra on CT perfusion * Severe co-morbid diseases: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stages 4 or 5, end-stage renal disease, liver cirrhosis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) requiring home oxygen; terminal illness such as cancer; Parkinson disease or other neurodegenerative diseases; severe congestive heart failure; seizures; debilitating stroke, Modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≥ 3 * Short life expectancy due to cancer or other co-morbid diseases * Class D on COICA classification * Normal neuropsychological battery test results * Subject unwilling to randomized to surgical procedure * Pregnant or risk of becoming pregnant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline, 6 months, 12 monthsThe MoCA is a screening tool used to assess cognitive function. The possible score range is 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.
Change in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline, 6 months, 12 monthsThis outcome reflects overall cognition. The composite z score is based on average z scores for the tests for each subject (sum of the z scores divided by the number of tests included) from a specifically designed battery of 14 cognitive tests: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),Wide Range Achievement Test-5 (WRAT-5); Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - IV (WAIS-IV); WAIS-IV, Coding subtest; WAIS-IV, Matrix Reasoning subtest; Hopkins Verbal Learning Test; Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT); Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) Test; Boston Naming Test; Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Complex Ideational Material subtest; Trail-Making Test, part A and part B; Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS); Iowa Scales of Personality Change (ISPC). A Z-score of 0 represents no change. Standard deviations above 0 represent better outcomes; standard deviations below 0 represent worse outcomes.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Number of Participants With Stroke Within 30 Days Post ProcedureUp to 30 days post procedure
Number of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage Within 72 Hours Post ProcedureUp to 72 hours post procedure
Number of Participant DeathsUp to 12 months

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Size of AmygdalaBaseline, 6 months, 12 monthsThe change in size of amygdala in the ipsilateral side of COICA (t-test), at enrollment vs. 1 year.
Change in Size of HippocampusBaseline, 6 months, 12 monthsThe change in size of hippocampus in the ipsilateral side of COICA (t-test), at enrollment vs. 1 year.
Number of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI SpectroscopyBaseline, 6 months, 12 monthsPresence of lactate determined by MRI spectroscopy in centrum semiovale in the ipsilateral side of chronic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (COICA).
Change in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionBaseline, 12 monthsMTT is defined as the average time, in seconds, that circulating blood cells needs to pass within a determinate volume of brain. It is assessed as part of the CT perfusion protocol.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Endovascular Arm
Subjects meet all inclusion criteria and were randomized to intervention Endovascular intervention: Endovascular angioplasty of the occluded carotid using balloon angioplasty and reconstruction with stents: coronary stents distally (Rebel, Boston Scientific; Vision, Abbott Vascular) and carotid stents proximal (Acculink and Xcat, Abbott Vascular) Patients will stay on their aspirin 325 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg
12
Medical Arm
Subjects meet all inclusion criteria and were randomized to best medical management Aspirin and Clopidogrel (maximal medical Therapy): Best Medical Management: daily dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin: 325 mg p.o. qd and Clopidogrel: 75 mg p.o. qd), optimization of systolic blood pressure (120 -140 mmHg), and smoking cessation.
13
Observational Arm
Participants without increased MTT or TPP on CTP may still be included in the unrandomized prospective observational arm.
6
Total31

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicEndovascular ArmMedical ArmObservational ArmTotal
Age, Continuous65 years62 years60 years62 years
Lesion Grade
A
5 Participants4 Participants1 Participants10 Participants
Lesion Grade
B
2 Participants3 Participants0 Participants5 Participants
Lesion Grade
C
5 Participants6 Participants5 Participants16 Participants
Lesion Grade
D
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Lesion Location
Bilateral Internal Carotid Artery
1 Participants2 Participants0 Participants3 Participants
Lesion Location
Left Internal Carotid Artery
8 Participants8 Participants4 Participants20 Participants
Lesion Location
Right Internal Carotid Artery
3 Participants3 Participants2 Participants8 Participants
Medical History
Carotid Artery Disease Surgery
2 Participants4 Participants3 Participants9 Participants
Medical History
Current COPD
2 Participants2 Participants1 Participants5 Participants
Medical History
Current Hypertension
9 Participants9 Participants3 Participants21 Participants
Medical History
Current Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
1 Participants3 Participants0 Participants4 Participants
Medical History
Stroke
9 Participants10 Participants4 Participants23 Participants
Medical History
Transient Ischemic Attack
6 Participants5 Participants2 Participants13 Participants
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) Score
11-15
2 Participants3 Participants0 Participants5 Participants
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) Score
16-20
2 Participants1 Participants1 Participants4 Participants
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) Score
21-25
5 Participants7 Participants2 Participants14 Participants
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) Score
26-29
3 Participants2 Participants3 Participants8 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Latino and Hispanic
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Non-white
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
12 Participants12 Participants6 Participants30 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
12 Participants13 Participants6 Participants31 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants3 Participants0 Participants5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants10 Participants6 Participants26 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
1 / 121 / 130 / 6
other
Total, other adverse events
10 / 128 / 134 / 6
serious
Total, serious adverse events
6 / 126 / 133 / 6

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Composite Cognitive Score

This outcome reflects overall cognition. The composite z score is based on average z scores for the tests for each subject (sum of the z scores divided by the number of tests included) from a specifically designed battery of 14 cognitive tests: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),Wide Range Achievement Test-5 (WRAT-5); Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - IV (WAIS-IV); WAIS-IV, Coding subtest; WAIS-IV, Matrix Reasoning subtest; Hopkins Verbal Learning Test; Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT); Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) Test; Boston Naming Test; Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Complex Ideational Material subtest; Trail-Making Test, part A and part B; Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS); Iowa Scales of Personality Change (ISPC). A Z-score of 0 represents no change. Standard deviations above 0 represent better outcomes; standard deviations below 0 represent worse outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at both timepoints for each comparison.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Endovascular ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 12 months0.36 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.35
Endovascular ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 6 months0.18 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.63
Medical ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 6 months-0.005 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.65
Medical ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 12 months0.29 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.76
Observational ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 6 months0.065 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.88
Observational ArmChange in Composite Cognitive ScoreBaseline to 12 months0.26 z-scoreStandard Deviation 0.59
Primary

Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score

The MoCA is a screening tool used to assess cognitive function. The possible score range is 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at both timepoints for each comparison.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Endovascular ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 6 months0.56 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.7
Endovascular ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 12 months0.50 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.2
Medical ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 12 months-0.80 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.86
Medical ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 6 months1.38 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.83
Observational ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 6 months-0.75 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.71
Observational ArmChange in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ScoreBaseline to 12 months-0.33 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.15
Secondary

Number of Participant Deaths

Time frame: Up to 12 months

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participant Deaths1 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participant Deaths1 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participant Deaths0 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage Within 72 Hours Post Procedure

Time frame: Up to 72 hours post procedure

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage Within 72 Hours Post Procedure1 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage Within 72 Hours Post Procedure0 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage Within 72 Hours Post Procedure0 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Stroke Within 30 Days Post Procedure

Time frame: Up to 30 days post procedure

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participants With Stroke Within 30 Days Post Procedure0 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participants With Stroke Within 30 Days Post Procedure1 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participants With Stroke Within 30 Days Post Procedure0 Participants
Other Pre-specified

Change in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT Perfusion

MTT is defined as the average time, in seconds, that circulating blood cells needs to pass within a determinate volume of brain. It is assessed as part of the CT perfusion protocol.

Time frame: Baseline, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at both timepoints.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Endovascular ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Left1.15 secondsStandard Deviation 0.51
Endovascular ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Right0.60 secondsStandard Deviation 0.84
Medical ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Left1.46 secondsStandard Deviation 0.53
Medical ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Right1.13 secondsStandard Deviation 0.95
Observational ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Left1.13 secondsStandard Deviation 0.1
Observational ArmChange in Mean Transit Time (MTT) on CT PerfusionMTT - Right1.14 seconds
Other Pre-specified

Change in Size of Amygdala

The change in size of amygdala in the ipsilateral side of COICA (t-test), at enrollment vs. 1 year.

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at both timepoints.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 6 months)-26.47 cm^3Standard Deviation 60.02
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 12 months)-29.36 cm^3Standard Deviation 52.95
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 6 months)-5.76 cm^3Standard Deviation 22.27
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 12 months)-15.33 cm^3Standard Deviation 6.61
Medical ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 12 months)-2.26 cm^3Standard Deviation 18.16
Medical ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 6 months)33.89 cm^3Standard Deviation 0
Medical ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 6 months)-0.64 cm^3Standard Deviation 0
Medical ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 12 months)2.85 cm^3Standard Deviation 34.39
Observational ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 12 months)-9.72 cm^3Standard Deviation 15.06
Observational ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 12 months)-3.18 cm^3Standard Deviation 5.68
Observational ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Right (baseline to 6 months)10.96 cm^3Standard Deviation 24.65
Observational ArmChange in Size of AmygdalaAmydala - Left (baseline to 6 months)14.22 cm^3Standard Deviation 19.74
Other Pre-specified

Change in Size of Hippocampus

The change in size of hippocampus in the ipsilateral side of COICA (t-test), at enrollment vs. 1 year.

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at both timepoints.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 6 months)-54.92 cm^3Standard Deviation 81.52
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 6 months)-67.54 cm^3Standard Deviation 80.73
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 12 months)-102.30 cm^3Standard Deviation 123.8
Endovascular ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 12 months)-69.00 cm^3Standard Deviation 54.51
Medical ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 6 months)44.55 cm^3Standard Deviation 0
Medical ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 12 months)-35.79 cm^3Standard Deviation 78.42
Medical ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 6 months)27.69 cm^3Standard Deviation 0
Medical ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 12 months)-22.00 cm^3Standard Deviation 45.24
Observational ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 12 months)-77.62 cm^3Standard Deviation 89.9
Observational ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Left (baseline to 6 months)49.08 cm^3Standard Deviation 193.34
Observational ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 12 months)-83.44 cm^3Standard Deviation 47.86
Observational ArmChange in Size of HippocampusHippocampus - Right (baseline to 6 months)43.05 cm^3Standard Deviation 161.94
Other Pre-specified

Number of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy

Presence of lactate determined by MRI spectroscopy in centrum semiovale in the ipsilateral side of chronic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (COICA).

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Population: Participants with data collected at each timepoint.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy6 months0 Participants
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI SpectroscopyBaseline1 Participants
Endovascular ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy12 months0 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy6 months0 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI SpectroscopyBaseline3 Participants
Medical ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy12 months0 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI SpectroscopyBaseline0 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy12 months0 Participants
Observational ArmNumber of Participants With the Presence of Lactate on 1H-MRI Spectroscopy6 months0 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026