ALADDIN 2.0 - Brain Sensitivity to Anesthetics and Neurocognitive Function

Delirium is a syndrome of fluctuating changes in alertness and attention that occurs in up to 40% of older surgical patients (i.e. age >60). The purpose of this study is to examine altered (or exaggerated) brain activity responses to anesthetic drugs as a marker of an unhealthy brain, i.e. a brain with signs of “pre-clinical” AD and which is at increased risk of postoperative delirium. This will provide a way for anesthesiologists (and surgeons) to use brain activity recording data already in wide use in American operating rooms to predict which patients are likely to develop postoperative delirium and/or AD, which could allow these patients to be selected for interventions to prevent these disorders.

Study tasks include the completion of:

• Preoperative Cognitive Testing
• Delirium Screening
• fMRI Brain Scan
• Lumbar Puncture (to obtain CSF) and Blood draw
• 32 channel EEG recording during surgery in the OR
• Postoperative screenings and attention assessments
• Follow-up cognitive testing 3 months and 1 year later

You may qualify for this study if you are:

• Age 60 years or older
• Undergoing non-cardiac/non-brain surgery (at least 120 minutes surgical duration) at Stanford Hospital with a planned overnight hospital stay, and in judgement of the PI, able to safely complete study assessments, including lumbar puncture and MRI scans.
• Are able to travel to Stanford (Palo Alto) for a study visit prior to your surgery.
• Are able to speak English.
• Are able to give consent.

Questions or Interested in Participating?
Reach out to our Clinical Research Coordinator, Ghazal Masarweh :