How delirium and dementia overlap in the brain
Official title: Clarifying the overlapping pathology of delirium and dementia
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11241121 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemicals to understand why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $589,535 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG063849-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241121 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who are at risk for, or who experience, episodes of delirium (for example during acute illness or hospitalization).
✕Less likely to help
People without cognitive impairment or those with unrelated neurological conditions are less likely to get direct benefit from this study's findings.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will record brain electrical activity that is tied to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine around times when delirium starts and gets better. They will also study signals related to noradrenaline and examine whether early Alzheimer-type changes in a small brain region (the locus coeruleus) relate to delirium symptoms. The team will compare these measurements across people with dementia who do and do not develop delirium to find patterns. Findings may point to biological targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific brain chemicals and signals to target with new treatments to prevent or reduce delirium in people with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked cholinergic changes and EEG patterns to delirium, but combining measures of acetylcholine, noradrenaline, and locus coeruleus pathology in dementia is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lennertz, Richard C — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lennertz, Richard C
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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.