How gut bacteria affect memory problems after surgery
Official title: Gut Microbiota Influences Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction through Indole-3-Propionic Acid
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10475064 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect memory and thinking skills after surgery, and it aims to find ways to improve gut health to help prevent these issues in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $400,203 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM128692-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10475064 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are surgical patients, particularly older adults, who are at risk for postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those with pre-existing severe cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between gut microbiota and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which affects a significant number of surgical patients. The study focuses on understanding how changes in gut bacteria may contribute to memory and learning deficits following surgery. By examining the effects of oral antibiotics on gut health and cognitive outcomes in mice, the researchers aim to identify modifiable factors that could help prevent POCD. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into potential dietary or therapeutic interventions for patients at risk of cognitive decline after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing memory problems in patients undergoing surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of gut microbiota in various neurological conditions has been explored, this specific investigation into its influence on POCD is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Shiqian — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Shen, Shiqian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Vitamin D, gut bacteria and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
This work will look at whether low vitamin D and changes in gut bacteria are linked to higher dementia risk in older adults living with chronic HIV and similar community members.
-
Gut bacteria and lung immune cells shape viral lung infections
A study explores how gut microbes affect lung immune cells and severity of respiratory viral infections to identify potential ways to reduce illness.
-
Gut bacteria and Tuft-2 cells linked to early colorectal cancer risk in young Black Americans
This grant aims to understand how gut microbes and Tuft-2 cells may predict aggressive colon adenomas in young Black adults who develop colorectal cancer.
-
Gut bacteria, HIV, and alcohol: how microbes affect gut health in people with HIV
This NIH grant studies how alcohol use and HIV together affect the gut’s bacteria and barrier, exploring a possible way to reduce gut inflammation in people living with HIV.
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.