Why delirium comes and goes in older adults
Delirium Dynamics: Understanding Causes and Effects
Researchers will use continuous sleep and activity monitoring in hospitalized older adults to find patterns that link sleep-wake and circadian disturbances with episodes of delirium.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263746 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear small continuous monitors while hospitalized so the team can track your sleep-wake cycles and activity alongside repeated checks of attention and awareness to record delirium fluctuations. The researchers will combine these continuous measurements to look for timing and patterns that connect sleep or circadian disruptions to sudden changes in delirium symptoms. Some participants will include older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias to see whether patterns differ in those groups. The work aims to identify modifiable sleep- or rhythm-related factors that could be targeted to prevent or shorten delirium.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults (typically 65+) who are hospitalized and are at risk of or experiencing delirium, including people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Not a fit: Younger people, those not hospitalized, or anyone unwilling or unable to wear continuous monitoring devices are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent or shorten delirium episodes and reduce related hospital stays and cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Prior trials that tried to improve sleep have produced mixed effects on delirium, so using continuous monitoring to link sleep/circadian changes to delirium is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kimchi, Eyal Yaacov — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kimchi, Eyal Yaacov
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.