Low Neurophysiologic Resistance to Anesthetics as a Marker of Preclinical/Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease and Neurovascular Pathology, Delirium risk and Inattention

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

SUMMARY In the parent R01 research project entitled "Low Neurophysiologic Resistance to Anesthetics as a Marker of Preclinical/Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease and Neurovascular Pathology, Delirium risk and Inattention," we are examining whether - neurodegenerative disease-type changes in brain structure and activity, predispose patients to show altered brain activity changes in response to anesthetic drugs provided during surgery. This R01 project exploits the idea that altered brain activity in response to anesthetic drugs reflects an unhealthy brain, which may have latent signs of pre-clinical AD and which may indicate an increased risk of POD. The expected outcome of the R01 project is to understand better the mechanisms underlying intraoperative brain EEG responses to anesthetic drugs, postoperative delirium, Alzheimer s Disease and related dementias, and relationships between these entities. In this Administrative Supplement application, we propose to investigate the relationship between preclinical/ prodromal Lewy body dementia (LBD) pathology (ie altered forms of a protein called alpha synuclein) . It has been well established that patients with delirium and dementia display similar EEG abnormalities in pre-alpha/theta frequencies and dominant frequency overall, similar to patients with LBD. Thus, EEG activity patterns during anesthesia may be able to serve as an indicator -Synuclein levels, which might help to identify at risk patients for further workup for LBD, AD, and other related dementias.2-4