Preventing memory and thinking problems after surgery
Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorder - Strategies for Prevention or Reversal Based on Molecular ad Cellular Mechanisms
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · NIH-11286850
This project tests medicines that boost a specific brain receptor to help older adults avoid or recover from memory and thinking problems after surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11286850 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying why older people sometimes have lasting memory and thinking problems after surgery and are focusing on a brain receptor called α5-GABAAR. In lab work with aged mice, increasing activity at this receptor using a drug (MP-III-022) or controlled propofol exposure improved memory and blocked surgery-related memory loss. The team will examine the molecular and cellular steps that cause age-related decline and how boosting α5-GABAARs may reduce inflammation and protect cognition. Findings could guide drugs or strategies to protect older patients' thinking after operations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults (especially those over about 60) who are at risk for or worried about postoperative cognitive decline would be the likely future candidates for related clinical trials.
Not a fit: People younger than about 60, those without surgery-related cognitive problems, or patients whose memory issues come from entirely different causes may not benefit from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent or reverse long-lasting post-surgery memory and thinking problems in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown that boosting α5-GABAAR activity can improve memory in aged mice and block surgery-induced memory impairments, but human testing has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN — CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RUDOLPH, UWE — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- Study coordinator: RUDOLPH, UWE
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 below.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome