The overall goal of this research program is to identify genomic markers that predict small vessel disease of the brain. Specifically we will investigate patients that have had strokes or dementia due to small vessel disease, or who have brain imaging showing evidence of damage to the small blood vessels of the brain, compared to patients with no such damage. We will search for DNA variants that are associated with the risk of small vessel disease of the brain. Because small vessel disease is associated with heart disease and shares many risk factors with heart disease, we will examine patients with a history of premature heart disease as well as their family members to identify individuals with small vessel disease of the brain. These patients will be identified through a large province-wide registry called SAVE BC. We will employ targeted sequencing of candidate genes to search for genomic signatures that correlate with small vessel disease.
