# Shared Pathophysiology of Postoperative Delirium and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

> **NIH NIH K01** · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $113,187

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K01 Career Development Award will support the training and career development of a junior investigator,
Dr. Sarinnapha Vasunilashorn, in patient-oriented aging research. The overall goal of the proposal is to provide
Dr. Vasunilashorn with critical skills and development of experience and competence as an independent,
translational researcher in delirium and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Specific training
goals include: 1) obtaining experience in primary data collection within a clinical setting, 2) expansion of her
analytic skillset in advanced longitudinal methods and genetic data analysis, and 3) building an in-depth
knowledge base of ADRD. These training goals will be conducted in coordination with a set of specific
research projects based on Dr. Vasunilashorn's preliminary data that reports on the association between
plasma inflammatory markers and the incidence and severity of postoperative delirium in older patients without
ADRD undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Delirium and ADRD have strong epidemiological associations: ADRD
has long-been recognized as a risk factor for delirium, and recently delirium has been implicated as a risk
factor for incident ADRD. Although this points to a clear link between delirium and ADRD, the shared
pathophysiology underlying these relationships remains largely unknown. In the proposed K01 Specific Aims,
Dr. Vasunilashorn will address this gap in knowledge and substantially extend her preliminary studies that have
focused only on plasma-based markers of inflammation by examining whether both plasma and cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF)-based measures of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury are associated with postoperative
delirium, long-term cognitive decline, and incident ADRD, and evaluate whether genetic risk modifies these
associations. These studies will leverage the considerable resources of: 1) the NIA-funded program project,
the Successful Aging after Elective Surgery Study (SAGES; P01AG031720), and 2) the Healthier
Postoperative Recovery Study (HiPOR; R21AG048600). This proposal is highly novel in examining markers of
neuroinflamamtion and neuronal injury that will advance our understanding of the pathophysiologic
mechanisms underlying the delirium-ADRD relationship, a largely underexplored area that represents a top
priority area of the NIH (PAR-17-038). Importantly, the results will inform pathophysiologically targeted
treatment for inflammation to provide neuroprotection and identify important variables to refine delirium risk
prediction strategies thereby potentially preventing delirium and reducing ADRD. Ultimately, this work will pave
the way and provide the foundation for the launch of Dr. Vasunilashorn's independent research career that will
explore the pathophysiologic linkages of delirium and ADRD, two major threats to the independence and
quality of life of all older adults.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9902270
- **Project number:** 5K01AG057836-03
- **Recipient organization:** BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** SARINNAPHA VASUNILASHORN
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $113,187
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9902270

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9902270, Shared Pathophysiology of Postoperative Delirium and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (5K01AG057836-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9902270. Licensed CC0.

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