Elderly-friendly, interpretable brain-monitoring to guide anesthesia with a FDA-cleared EEG device
Official title: Developing an Elderly Patient-Specific, Accurate, Intuitive and Highly Interpretable System for Unconsciousness Management in General Anesthesia Using PASCALL FDA-Cleared Intraoperative EEG Monitor
Funded at Pascall Systems, Incorporated · NIH-11419855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small FDA-cleared brain-monitoring system and new, easy-to-understand brain-state markers will help tailor anesthesia doses for older adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pascall Systems, Incorporated NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,069,722 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG090247-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (typically 65+) undergoing procedures with propofol anesthesia, including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving propofol anesthesia or those without ADRD-related risk may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on using a wireless EEG-based monitor and two interpretable brain markers to guide anesthesia dosing in aging patients. It builds on prior work that developed the monitor and cleared it with the FDA, and now aims to personalize unconsciousness levels during propofol anesthesia for people 65 and older, including those with ADRD. The approach uses Alpha Modulation Index and Slow Frequency Modulation Index along with a patient-specific responsiveness algorithm to inform the clinician how much anesthetic to give to stay at the desired unconsciousness level. The goal is to reduce over-sedation and the resulting risk of postoperative delirium by providing clearer, patient-tailored brain state information. The project emphasizes practical clinical integration, usability for caregivers, and safety in the elderly dementia population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce postoperative delirium and improve safety for older adults undergoing surgery by guiding more precise anesthesia dosing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts demonstrated a viable FDA-cleared brain monitor and novel brain-state markers, with this grant advancing patient-specific use in dementia-affected patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Pascall Systems, Incorporated
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le Mau, Tuan — Pascall Systems, Incorporated
- Study coordinator: Le Mau, Tuan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How common anesthetics affect Alzheimer-related brain changes in men and women
This project looks at whether common anesthetics cause Alzheimer-related brain changes differently in men and women and whether sex hormones might protect older adults who need surgery.
-
Understanding how people wake up from general anesthesia
This grant studies why people wake up from anesthesia and what happens in the brain when they emerge, aiming to reduce confusion and agitation after surgery.
-
Personalized brain-monitoring system to guide anesthesia in older adults
This project is building a user-friendly EEG system to help tailor propofol anesthesia for older adults, including people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
-
How different anesthesia drugs and sleep affect brain cells during slow waves
This project tests how various anesthesia drugs and natural sleep cause slow brain waves and whether they involve the same brain circuits in people like you.
-
Active monitoring to guide pain and nerve block care during surgery and recovery
A new method using brain-wave signals could help doctors tailor pain relief during surgery and after, improving comfort and reducing opioid use.
-
Investigating how different anesthetics and sleep affect brain wave patterns.
This study is looking at how different types of anesthesia affect brain activity during sleep and anesthesia, using tiny animals to help us learn more about how our brains work when we're unconscious, which could improve how we use anesthesia in people.
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.