# Neuro-inflammation in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: CSF and fMRI Studies

> **NIH NIH K76** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $235,775

## Abstract

This is a K76 Beeson career development award for Dr. Miles Berger, a geriatric neuro-
anesthesiologist with a focus on postoperative cognitive disorders. Each year >16 million older
Americans undergo anesthesia and surgery, and up to 40% of these patients develop
postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), a syndrome of postoperative thinking and memory
deficits. Although distinct from delirium, POCD (like delirium) is associated with decreased quality
of life, long term cognitive decline, early retirement, increased mortality, and a possible increased
risk for developing dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. We need strategies to prevent POCD,
but first, we need to understand what causes it. A dominant theory holds that brain inflammation
causes POCD, but little work has directly tested this theory in humans. Our preliminary data
strongly suggest that there is significant postoperative neuro-inflammation in older adults who
develop POCD. In this K76 award, we will prospectively obtain pre- and post-operative cognitive
testing, fMRI imaging and CSF samples in 200 surgical patients over age 65. This will allow us to
evaluate the role of specific neuro-inflammatory processes in POCD, its underlying brain
connectivity changes, and postoperative changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) biomarkers, such as the microtubule-associated protein tau. This project will
advance understanding of neuro-inflammatory processes in POCD and clarify the potential link(s)
between these processes and postoperative changes in AD pathology, in line with the National
Institute of Aging’s mission to understand aging and fight cognitive decline due to AD. During this
K76 grant period, Dr. Berger will also complete an individually tailored MS degree in Translational
Research that will include training in immunology methods, fMRI imaging, cognitive neuroscience,
geroscience, and physician leadership. This career development plan will give Dr. Berger the
transdisciplinary skills to pursue his longer term goal of improving postoperative cognitive function
for the more than 16 million older Americans who have anesthesia and surgery each year.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160751
- **Project number:** 5K76AG057022-05
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Miles Berger
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $235,775
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160751

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160751, Neuro-inflammation in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: CSF and fMRI Studies (5K76AG057022-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160751. Licensed CC0.

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