Postsurgical pain and opioid use in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

The project will enroll older adults undergoing major surgery and compare those with mild cognitive impairment to those without, looking at how they respond to pain after surgery and how they use opioid medications. Researchers will measure objective pain responses using quantitative sensory testing and examine how pain-related bodily signals change after surgery. They will also explore genetic and biomarker factors such as APOE4 status and plasma Aβ42/40 ratio to understand potential mechanisms behind any differences. The aim is to improve postoperative pain control and reduce opioid-related risks for patients with MCI or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  Nashville, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Kertai, Miklos David — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Kertai, Miklos David

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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.