Why dementia and sudden confusion (delirium) often happen together
Official title: Clarifying the overlapping pathology of delirium and dementia
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11480981 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemical changes to find why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $42,085 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG063849-07S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11480981 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are at risk of or who experience episodes of acute confusion (delirium), especially those seen at hospitals or clinics affiliated with the study site.
✕Less likely to help
People without cognitive impairment or whose confusion is caused entirely by non-neurological issues (for example, purely metabolic or drug overdose events) may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will monitor brain electrical activity and neurotransmitter signals in people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias before, during, and after episodes of sudden confusion. They will use noninvasive brain recordings to look for patterns linked to acetylcholine and will measure noradrenaline-related changes tied to a small brain region called the locus coeruleus. By comparing these electrical and chemical patterns with symptoms and recovery, the team hopes to explain why delirium happens and why it looks different from person to person. The work combines bedside monitoring during acute episodes with follow-up to track longer-term effects on thinking and memory.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for preventing or treating delirium in people with dementia and reduce its long-term impact on thinking and independence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked cholinergic changes to delirium but results are mixed, and combining electrical brain measures with noradrenaline-focused work to explain symptom differences is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lennertz, Richard C — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lennertz, Richard C
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This project aims to find how inflammation from surgery harms the brain's blood vessels and leads to sudden delirium in older adults with dementia.
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How delirium and dementia overlap in the brain
This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemicals to understand why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
-
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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.