Understanding Delirium in Patients with Severe Lung Injury
Lung-Brain Axis as a Mediator of Delirium
This research explores how severe lung injury, called ARDS, might lead to confusion and disorientation, known as delirium, by looking at signals sent from the lungs to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115670 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When people experience severe lung injury like ARDS, they often develop delirium, a serious condition affecting their thinking and awareness. We believe that damage to the lining of blood vessels in the lungs releases certain substances into the bloodstream. These substances then travel to the brain, potentially causing changes in brain activity that lead to delirium. Our goal is to understand this connection better, specifically how these lung signals might overstimulate brain cells. By uncovering these mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to protect the brain during critical illness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced or are at risk for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and related delirium would be the focus of this research.
Not a fit: Patients without severe lung injury or delirium are not directly addressed by this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat delirium in patients with severe lung injury, improving their recovery and long-term health.
How similar studies have performed: While the link between lung injury and delirium is known, this specific mechanism involving blood vessel lining substances and brain cell overstimulation is a novel area of exploration, building on recent scientific advances and preliminary findings.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hippensteel, Joseph Alan — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hippensteel, Joseph Alan
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.