Investigating how certain metabolites affect inflammation and energy failure in older adults with delirium
Official title: Geroscience metabolites beta-hydroxybutyrate and NAD+ linking inflammation and neuroenergetic failure in delirium
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11098994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how brain inflammation and energy problems might lead to confusion in older adults with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, and it’s exploring whether using ketone bodies can help boost brain energy and improve thinking skills to reduce confusion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $115,399 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG068025-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098994 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, especially those diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias who are at risk for delirium.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have any cognitive impairments or risk factors for delirium may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding delirium, a common condition in older adults characterized by confusion, particularly in those with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The study aims to explore the connection between neuroinflammation and energy disruption in the brain, using various methods including cell systems, mouse models, and human biospecimens. By examining how ketone bodies can serve as an alternative energy source for the brain, the research seeks to uncover potential therapeutic strategies to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of delirium in older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help prevent or alleviate delirium in older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer's Disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results using ketogenic diets to improve cognitive function in aging models, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newman, John C — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Newman, John C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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READI-SET-GO: Improving Delirium Screening for Hospitalized Older Adults
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-
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Low brain changes from anesthesia may signal early Alzheimer's risk
A study at Stanford will look at whether brain responses to anesthesia during surgery reveal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and delirium risk in people aged 65 and up.
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This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemical changes to find why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
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AKI-related delirium after heart surgery
This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
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Lipocalin-2 and delirium after surgery in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
A study at Duke University looks at how an inflammatory protein called lipocalin-2 may trigger delirium after surgery, especially in people at risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
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.