Delirium after surgery and its link to Alzheimer's and related dementias
Official title: Postoperative Delirium and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11395067 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2019 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $591,323 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG062509-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395067 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal human candidates would be older adults undergoing major surgery, people living with Alzheimer's or related dementias, or individuals at high risk for dementia who could provide samples or take part in follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
Younger people without dementia risk or individuals not facing surgery are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research in the near term.
What this research studies
If you're an older adult or have Alzheimer's risk, researchers are using a mouse model that mimics delirium after surgery and anesthesia to see what changes happen in the brain. They are focusing on brain inflammation and buildup of phosphorylated Tau protein, which are tied to Alzheimer's, and on how aging or Alzheimer-related genes change those responses. The team performs surgery on aged mice, watches for delirium-like behavior, and examines brain tissue for inflammatory and tau-related changes. The goal is to build a multifactorial explanation for how surgery can trigger delirium and potentially accelerate dementia in some people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify ways to prevent or treat postoperative delirium and help lower the long-term risk of dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have shown that surgery and anesthesia can cause brain inflammation and delirium-like behavior and affect tau protein, but translating these findings into human treatments has been limited so far.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Zhongcong — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Xie, Zhongcong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how surgery and anesthesia affect delirium in older adults with Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how surgery and anesthesia might cause confusion and memory problems in older adults, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's, to help find better ways to prevent and treat these issues after surgery.
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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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Brain circuits behind confusion after surgery in early Alzheimer's
This project looks at whether activating two tiny brain centers can prevent or shorten sudden confusion after anesthesia in people with early Alzheimer's.
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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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Arginine changes in people who develop delirium and thinking problems after surgery
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.
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.