New-onset Depression After Surgery in Older Adults
Official title: New-onset Depression in Older Surgical Patients: Risk Factors, Mechanisms, and Outcomes
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11450807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will look at why some older adults develop depression after surgery, and what helps or hurts their recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $807,407 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH146291-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (likely 21+ years) undergoing various surgical procedures who are at risk for or experience new-onset depression after surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without new depressive symptoms or those not undergoing surgery may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you’re an older adult about to have surgery, this study will follow your mood and recovery over time to see what factors—like other health problems, social support, and frailty—are linked to new depressive symptoms after surgery. Researchers will explore possible mechanisms such as persistent pain, sleep issues, and cognitive changes that might connect surgery to depression. They plan to describe how post-operative depression affects daily functioning and long-term outcomes in a diverse group of community-dwelling seniors. The goal is to identify risk factors and pathways so clinicians can tailor care to improve mental well-being after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: The findings could lead to better screening and personalized care to prevent or treat post-operative depression in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in younger adults shows links between surgery and depression, but this study focuses on older adults and is designed to describe risk factors and outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Victoria Lai-Yen — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Tang, Victoria Lai-Yen
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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.