Cognition and the Immunology of Postoperative Outcomes

Description

This research will test the hypothesis that immune system disequilibrium / dysfunction explains why preoperative cognitive impairment is a strong predictor of postoperative morbidity in older surgical patients. The investigators propose that cognitive impairment influences surgical morbidity because of underlying immune disequilibrium / dysfunction (risk marker) and that this shapes the immune response to surgery and defines immunological hallmarks of postoperative morbidity (disease marker). The overarching goal of this application therefore is to define and better understand the clinical immunology underlying the relationship between cognition and geriatric surgical morbidity.

Conditions

Cognitive Impairment, Frail Elderly Syndrome, Delirium, Surgery

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This research will test the hypothesis that immune system disequilibrium / dysfunction explains why preoperative cognitive impairment is a strong predictor of postoperative morbidity in older surgical patients. The investigators propose that cognitive impairment influences surgical morbidity because of underlying immune disequilibrium / dysfunction (risk marker) and that this shapes the immune response to surgery and defines immunological hallmarks of postoperative morbidity (disease marker). The overarching goal of this application therefore is to define and better understand the clinical immunology underlying the relationship between cognition and geriatric surgical morbidity.

Cognition and the Immunology of Postoperative Outcomes

Cognition and the Immunology of Postoperative Outcomes

Condition
Cognitive Impairment
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Patients ≥ 65 years of age
  • * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of I-III
  • * Scheduled for elective spine surgery.
  • * History of stroke (not including transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs)
  • * History of brain tumor
  • * History of autoimmune disorders
  • * Medications likely to significantly impact inflammation (e.g. steroids)
  • * Current infection
  • * Uncorrected vision or hearing impairment
  • * limited use of the dominant hand (limited ability to draw)
  • * inability to speak, read, or understand English.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Brigham and Women's Hospital,

Gregory J Crosby, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Brigham & Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School

Study Record Dates

2025-07-31