Developing a digital tool to predict delirium after surgery
Official title: Using Routine Care Electronic Medical Record Data and Artificial Intelligence to Develop a Passive Digital Marker to Predict Postoperative Delirium
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-10896394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help older adults who are having major surgery by using smart technology to predict if they might experience confusion afterward, so we can take better care of them and help keep their minds healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $141,820 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AG071945-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10896394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are scheduled to undergo major elective surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing major surgery or who are younger than the typical age range for this study may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve the care of older patients undergoing major surgery by predicting the risk of postoperative delirium, a common and serious complication. The project will utilize electronic health record data from over 35,000 patients, merging it with advanced artificial intelligence techniques to create a digital marker that can identify those at risk. This marker will be tested in a pilot clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness in improving cognitive outcomes after surgery. The goal is to enhance brain health and reduce complications for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention strategies for postoperative delirium, improving recovery and cognitive health for older surgical patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using electronic health records and machine learning to predict various health outcomes, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohanty, Sanjay — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Mohanty, Sanjay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lipocalin-2 and delirium after surgery in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
A study at Duke University looks at how an inflammatory protein called lipocalin-2 may trigger delirium after surgery, especially in people at risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
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Commercialization of an EEG-guided anesthesia system to reduce delirium in older adults and those at risk for Alzheimer’s
A new wireless EEG-guided anesthesia system aims to reduce postoperative delirium in seniors and people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s by personalizing brain monitoring during surgery.
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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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Intraoperative EEG-Guided Anesthesia to Reduce Delirium in Older Adults and Those with Alzheimer’s or Related Dementias
A new system uses brainwave monitoring during surgery to tailor anesthesia and reduce delirium risk in older patients and those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
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Understanding how blood biomarkers link delirium after surgery to Alzheimer’s disease
This study tests whether blood markers of Alzheimer's disease can predict and explain delirium after surgery in older adults.
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Neuroinflammation, Protective Brain Scaffolds, and Delirium After Surgery
This project looks at why older people often get delirium after surgery and how brain tissues called perineural nets might influence this, with the goal of improving outcomes for people at risk of Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
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.