How common anesthetics affect Alzheimer-related brain changes in men and women
Official title: General Anesthesia and Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathogenesis
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11396753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $420,819 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG070761-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396753 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be older adults with Alzheimer's disease or with high risk for Alzheimer-related decline who are undergoing general anesthesia for surgery.
✕Less likely to help
People who are young, not at risk for Alzheimer's, or not undergoing general anesthesia are unlikely to directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare commonly used anesthetic gases to see which ones trigger Alzheimer-related changes in the brain, focusing on molecules called Tau and GSK3β. The work uses laboratory experiments and Alzheimer-model mice to test whether differences in chemical properties of anesthetics explain these effects. The team will also test whether the sex hormones testosterone and estradiol can block the harmful steps that lead to Tau changes. Findings aim to explain why men and women might respond differently to anesthesia in the context of Alzheimer's risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors pick anesthetics that lower the risk of triggering Alzheimer-related changes and point to hormone-based protections for vulnerable older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory and animal studies have shown that some anesthetics can promote Tau phosphorylation and cognitive changes, but the sex-specific effects and hormone-based protection are less well studied.
Where this research is happening
-
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
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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.