How genes and inflammation may raise risk for delirium and Alzheimer's in older adults
Brain Vulnerability in Delirium and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Intersection of Polygenic Risk and Inflammation
This project looks at whether older adults with higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's plus inflammation from events like surgery or infection are more likely to get delirium, faster memory decline, or dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will combine information about your genes (a polygenic risk score) with blood tests that measure inflammation to track changes in thinking and memory. You may be followed after events that raise inflammation, such as surgery or infection, using medical records and standard cognitive tests over time. The team will compare people with higher versus lower genetic risk to see whether inflammation more often leads to delirium or long-term cognitive decline in those with a 'vulnerable' brain. This builds on prior links between inflammation, delirium, and Alzheimer's but uses modern genetic scoring to try to pinpoint who is at greatest risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults (typically age 65 and up), especially those who may undergo surgery or experience infections and who can provide blood samples and medical records for follow-up.
Not a fit: Younger people or those without available genetic or inflammation data, and people whose cognitive problems are due to non‑Alzheimer causes, are less likely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify older adults at higher short- and long-term risk so clinicians can target prevention or closer monitoring when inflammation occurs.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked inflammation to delirium and certain genes (like APOE) to dementia risk, and polygenic risk scores have improved Alzheimer's prediction, but combining polygenic risk with inflammation to predict delirium and downstream dementia is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasunilashorn, Sarinnapha — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Vasunilashorn, Sarinnapha
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 below.