Postoperative cognitive problems and Alzheimer’s-related dementia: how surgery may affect the aging brain
Official title: Pathogenesis of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11307000 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging patients undergoing surgery may experience brain changes after the operation that could relate to later memory problems and dementia, and this study seeks to understand the biology behind that link.
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, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $723,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG041274-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307000 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults at risk for perioperative cognitive issues and researchers will use mouse models to study mechanisms relevant to this risk.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to individual patients may be limited to future translations; the current work is preclinical in mice.
What this research studies
This project looks at how anesthesia and surgery might disrupt brain function in older adults by focusing on blood monocytes and proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Using mouse models, researchers will examine changes in Tau phosphorylation, Cyclophilin D levels, inflammation, and brain function after surgery to build a model of how perioperative neurocognitive disorder develops. The work aims to connect immune responses in the blood with molecular events in the brain that contribute to cognitive changes after surgery. Findings could point to targets for preventing cognitive decline in elderly patients undergoing operations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify biological pathways that protect or worsen cognitive function after surgery, guiding strategies to reduce risk in elderly patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest immune and Tau-related mechanisms may link surgery to brain inflammation and cognitive changes, indicating a plausible path forward.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Zhongcong — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Xie, Zhongcong
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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.