Lipocalin-2 and delirium after surgery in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
Official title: Defining the role of lipocalin-2 in postoperative delirium
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11464607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $647,811 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG104704-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11464607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults undergoing orthopedic surgery who may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including those with neurodegenerative changes.
✕Less likely to help
People without a high risk of dementia or those not undergoing surgery may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Delirium after surgery is common and can worsen long-term thinking abilities, particularly in older adults with dementia risk. This project builds on animal and human data to understand how lipocalin-2 and brain blood vessels interact to cause delirium around orthopedic procedures. By studying both postoperative samples from patients and a mouse model, researchers hope to map when and where inflammatory processes start to affect the brain. The goal is to identify targets that could lead to new treatments to prevent delirium and protect cognitive health after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to strategies to prevent or reduce delirium and its long-term cognitive consequences in older adults with dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and patient studies have linked brain inflammation and delirium; this project builds on those findings with a focused mechanism involving LCN2.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terrando, Niccolo — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Terrando, Niccolo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Commercialization of an EEG-guided anesthesia system to reduce delirium in older adults and those at risk for Alzheimer’s
A new wireless EEG-guided anesthesia system aims to reduce postoperative delirium in seniors and people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s by personalizing brain monitoring during surgery.
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Delirium after surgery and its link to Alzheimer's and related dementias
This project looks at why older adults and people with or at risk for Alzheimer's can get delirium after surgery and how that might increase later dementia risk.
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Intraoperative EEG-Guided Anesthesia to Reduce Delirium in Older Adults and Those with Alzheimer’s or Related Dementias
A new system uses brainwave monitoring during surgery to tailor anesthesia and reduce delirium risk in older patients and those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
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Understanding how blood biomarkers link delirium after surgery to Alzheimer’s disease
This study tests whether blood markers of Alzheimer's disease can predict and explain delirium after surgery in older adults.
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Neuroinflammation, Protective Brain Scaffolds, and Delirium After Surgery
This project looks at why older people often get delirium after surgery and how brain tissues called perineural nets might influence this, with the goal of improving outcomes for people at risk of Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
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Integrated Brain State Monitor to Help Personalize Anesthesia and Prevent Delirium in Older Adults
A new, brain-monitoring system aims to personalize anesthesia care for older adults and people at risk for Alzheimer's, with the goal of reducing postoperative delirium.
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.