Brain circuits behind confusion after surgery in early Alzheimer's
Official title: Neural Circuits Underlying Post-operative Delirium in Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11401193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether activating two tiny brain centers can prevent or shorten sudden confusion after anesthesia in people with early Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG076877-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment who are facing surgery and worried about postoperative confusion would be the most relevant group for future clinical follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced-stage dementia or those not undergoing surgery are unlikely to gain direct benefits from this preclinical work, and it does not offer immediate treatments.
What this research studies
Researchers will use an Alzheimer's rat model to study how two brainstem regions (the locus coeruleus and ventral tegmental area) influence attention after general anesthesia. Rats will perform a touchscreen attention task so scientists can measure how quickly cognitive function returns and how long confusion-like behavior lasts. The team will use targeted genetic tools to turn those brain regions on or off and compare recovery, pathology, and attention over time. Findings will link brain changes, anesthesia effects, and Alzheimer pathology to point toward ways to reduce postoperative delirium.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat postoperative delirium in people with early Alzheimer's, helping them recover clearer and safer after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked these brain regions to attention and anesthesia effects, but using targeted chemogenetics in an Alzheimer's model to address postoperative delirium is largely a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vincent, Kathleen Frances — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Vincent, Kathleen Frances
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Low brain changes from anesthesia may signal early Alzheimer's risk
A study at Stanford will look at whether brain responses to anesthesia during surgery reveal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and delirium risk in people aged 65 and up.
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Delirium after surgery and its link to Alzheimer's and related dementias
This project looks at why older adults and people with or at risk for Alzheimer's can get delirium after surgery and how that might increase later dementia risk.
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How genes and inflammation may raise risk for delirium and Alzheimer's in older adults
This project looks at whether older adults with higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's plus inflammation from events like surgery or infection are more likely to get delirium, faster memory decline, or dementia.
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This project looks at whether changes in arginine-related chemicals in spinal fluid are linked to delirium and later thinking problems in older adults having surgery.
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Investigating brain responses to anesthetics in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how brain activity changes when older adults are given anesthesia, to see if it can help spot early signs of Alzheimer's disease and identify those who might be at risk for confusion after surgery.
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Investigating how sleep disturbances may predict delirium and Alzheimer's disease after heart surgery
This study is looking at how sleep problems might affect the chances of developing confusion or Alzheimer's disease in older adults who are having heart valve surgery, and it aims to help doctors better care for these patients by tracking their sleep and thinking skills before and after the surgery.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.