Imaging, biomarkers, and vascular cognitive impairment in China: Rationale and design for the VICA study

Abstract INTRODUCTION Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is highly heterogeneous, with unclear pathogenesis. Individuals with vascular risk factors (VRF), cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and stroke are all at risk of developing VCI. To address the growing challenges posed by VCI, the “Vascular, Imaging and Cognition Association of China” (VICA) was established. METHODS VICA aims to recruit 10,000 participants, including 2000 with VRF, 3000 with CSVD, and 5000 stroke patients, to form a nationwide multicenter cohort. The study integrates clinical, neuroimaging, and multi‐omics data to better understand VCI heterogeneity, improve disease prediction, and ensure timely diagnosis. RESULTS VICA has screened 2045 eligible VRF participants from six communities in Wuhan, Shanghai, and Taizhou, along with 602 CSVD and 1269 stroke patients from 135 hospitals nationwide. Baseline enrollment and follow‐up work are still ongoing. DISCUSSION Establishing a high‐quality longitudinal cohort is crucial for understanding VCI pathogenesis and developing novel markers for early screening and diagnosis. Highlights Establish a large‐scale prospective longitudinal cohort comprising 10,000 participants, focusing on the high‐risk population of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in China. Establish a nationwide three‐tier medical network, make full use of resources, and achieve extensive enrollment of patients with cerebral small vessel disease and stroke patients. Utilize multimodal imaging and biomarkers to lay the foundation for constructing more‐precise risk models. Introduce eye movement and gait analysis as new methods for assessing cognitive function. Use positron emission tomography to further investigate the interaction between vascular factors and neurodegeneration.