Monitoring brain activity to improve anesthesia for elderly patients at risk of delirium
Official title: Developing an Integrated Brain State Monitor for Personalized Anesthesia Decision Support: Preventing Postoperative Delirium in Elderly and Patients At Risk for Alzheimer's or Related Dementias
Funded at Pascall Systems, Incorporated · NIH-11273457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new system that helps doctors give safer anesthesia to older patients, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's and similar conditions, by keeping an eye on their brain activity to lower the chances of confusion after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pascall Systems, Incorporated NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,245,833 |
| NIH project number | 4R44AG087872-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11273457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are elderly patients, particularly those aged 60 and older, who are undergoing procedures requiring general anesthesia and have a risk of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 60 or do not have any risk factors for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a personalized anesthesia decision support system that monitors brain activity in elderly patients, particularly those at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By integrating a wireless brain monitor with existing medical systems, the project seeks to enhance anesthesia management and reduce the risk of postoperative delirium (POD). The approach includes establishing technical feasibility, creating a next-generation monitoring system, and developing clinical decision support features to guide anesthetic dosing and predict POD risk. This innovative method addresses a significant gap in current anesthesia practices for vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients, improving their recovery and overall health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using technology to monitor brain activity during anesthesia, but this specific integrated approach is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Pascall Systems, Incorporated
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le Mau, Tuan — Pascall Systems, Incorporated
- Study coordinator: Le Mau, Tuan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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.