Understanding brain blood flow and its effects on recovery after heart surgery
Official title: Cerebral Autoregulation in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit: Associations with Postoperative Delirium, Cognitive Change, and Biomarkers of Brain Injury
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10883892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blood flow to the brain after heart surgery can affect your thinking and memory, and it aims to find the best ways to manage your blood pressure during recovery to help prevent problems like confusion and memory loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $338,055 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG072387-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are at risk for postoperative delirium and cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing cardiac surgery or those with pre-existing severe cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how changes in blood flow to the brain during the recovery period after heart surgery can lead to complications such as delirium and cognitive decline. By monitoring cerebral autoregulation, the study aims to personalize blood pressure management for patients in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit. The goal is to identify specific blood flow patterns that may contribute to these postoperative complications, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Patients will be closely monitored for signs of cognitive changes and brain injury biomarkers during their recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management strategies that reduce the risk of delirium and cognitive decline in patients recovering from heart surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that personalized blood pressure management can improve outcomes in similar patient populations, suggesting a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Charles Hugh — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Brown, Charles Hugh
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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.