Serum drug levels and metabolism to shorten delirium and protect memory in older adults
Official title: The Effect of Serum Psychotropic Drug Levels and Drug Metabolizer Status on Delirium Duration and Long-term Cognition
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11400417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests whether measuring serum levels of psychotropic drugs and how people metabolize them can help shorten delirium and protect long-term thinking in adults aged 65 and older who are hospitalized.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,937,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG090523-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older hospitalized with delirium or at risk of delirium, who are on psychotropic medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not using psychotropic medications or not hospitalized may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
Older adults in the hospital often develop delirium, a sudden confusion that can speed up cognitive decline. This project looks at how the actual drug levels in the blood, and how a person’s body processes those drugs, relate to how long delirium lasts and future memory issues. By using advanced lab tests to detect unusually high drug levels, researchers hope to identify better ways to deprescribe safely and effectively. The study builds on preliminary findings that very high SSRI/SNRI levels were linked to longer delirium, especially in people with existing dementia risk. If successful, the work could guide personalized medication decisions to improve short-term recovery and long-term brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Identifying safe, personalized deprescribing targets to reduce delirium duration and protect cognition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses suggested a link between high psychotropic drug levels and delirium duration, but confirmation is needed in a larger, prospective study.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Jin Ho — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Han, Jin Ho
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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.