Tau changes after hip or knee replacement surgery
Official title: Surgery and Postoperative Tau Pathology in Humans: A Translational Imaging and Biochemical Study to Explore Surgery-Induced Hallmarks of Alzheimer's Dementia
Run by Uppsala University Hospital · NCT07871487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will see if brain tau changes after hip or knee surgery and whether these changes relate to inflammation and thinking abilities.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Uppsala University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Uppsala) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2029 |
| Main results expected | April 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | April 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07871487 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 55–75 with good baseline cognition (MMSE ≥23) scheduled for hip or knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia or matched controls with hip/knee osteoarthritis not undergoing surgery.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals outside the age range, with higher surgical risk (ASA >2), MMSE <23, or with active inflammatory or cardiopulmonary disease may be less likely to benefit from or participate in the study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational study at Uppsala University Hospital comparing adults aged 55–75 undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia to matched controls with the same joints but no surgery. Participants will have brain PET and MRI scans before surgery and again at 12 and 24 months, along with blood and spinal fluid samples to measure tau and inflammation biomarkers. The study aims to map individual tau trajectories and link them to neurocognitive outcomes and biomarker changes over two years. The goal is to translate preclinical findings on surgery-induced tau pathology to surgical patients and understand potential mechanisms of postoperative cognitive changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify whether major surgery influences brain tau pathology and cognitive trajectories, informing perioperative risk assessment and future interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows surgery can trigger inflammatory and neuronal injury biomarkers, but human data on long-term tau changes after surgery are limited and this study addresses that gap.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Surgical cohort: * Age 55 to 75 years * ASA physical status class 1 or 2 * Scheduled for hip or knee arthroplasty under regional (spinal) anesthesia at Uppsala University Hospital * Written informed consent Non-surgical control cohort: * Age 55 to 75 years * ASA physical status class 1 or 2 * Hip or knee osteoarthritis, recruited from the orthopedic outpatient clinic at Uppsala University Hospital * Not scheduled for surgery * Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion Criteria (both cohorts): * Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score below 23 * History of systemic inflammatory disorder * Advanced cardiopulmonary disease
Where it's running
-
Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala, Sweden Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Miklos Lipcsey, Professor
- Email: miklos.lipcsey@uu.se
- Phone: +46186110000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.