How brain immune cells and amyloid contribute to delirium in dementia
Official title: Microglia-Amyloid interactions in delirium superimposed on dementia
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11239019 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a gentle, noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation to try to reduce brain inflammation and amyloid buildup after surgery in people with Alzheimer’s-type dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $787,727 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG057525-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239019 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The most relevant patients would be older adults with Alzheimer’s-type dementia or other dementias who need surgery, especially orthopedic procedures like hip or tibial fracture repair.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementia or those whose delirium stems from non-surgical causes are less likely to benefit directly from this line of research.
What this research studies
Researchers use an Alzheimer-like mouse model that receives a common orthopedic surgery to mimic postoperative delirium on top of dementia and study what happens at the blood-brain barrier and in microglia (brain immune cells). They map immune-cell changes and amyloid-β deposits after surgery to define the immune patterns linked to delirium superimposed on dementia. The team tests brief percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (pVNS) to see if it can normalize microglial activity and lower amyloid levels after surgery, with the goal of identifying pathways that could be targeted to prevent or lessen postoperative cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a non-drug way to reduce post-surgical delirium and limit worsening of Alzheimer’s symptoms after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal work showed surgery can trigger acute amyloid deposition in Alzheimer-model mice and vagus nerve stimulation has reduced inflammation in other settings, but applying pVNS to prevent postoperative delirium in dementia models is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terrando, Niccolo — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Terrando, Niccolo
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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.