Investigating how medications can cause delirium in older adults

Comprehensive Assessment of Delirium Risk due to Medications

['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-10989899

This study is looking at how certain medications might lead to delirium in older adults who are in the hospital, with the goal of finding ways to keep patients safer by identifying which drugs could be causing this serious condition.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R21']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10989899 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the role of medications in causing delirium, a serious condition affecting many hospitalized older adults. By analyzing a large dataset from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which includes over 81,000 patients, the study aims to identify specific medications that may increase the risk of delirium. Using advanced data mining techniques, researchers will explore patterns and associations in medication use and delirium occurrence. This approach seeks to improve patient safety by identifying preventable causes of delirium related to medication.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are hospitalized individuals aged 65 and older who are receiving medications.

Not a fit: Patients under the age of 65 or those not taking medications during hospitalization may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better medication management and reduced incidence of delirium in older adults, enhancing their overall care and recovery.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been limited research specifically targeting medications as a cause of delirium, the innovative use of large datasets and data mining techniques in this study represents a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.