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Biomarkers Associated With Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

NCT05464355 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 45

Last updated 2025-06-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Loss of cognitive function after major surgery is a significant risk in older people. It can occur acutely in the days after surgery as delirium or in months to years later as a persistent reduction in brain function termed neurocognitive decline. Together these conditions are called post operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). They can be acutely distressing for patients and are associated with other problems after surgery.

The causes of post operative cognitive dysfunction are poorly understood. Studies have been limited by a lack of biomarkers to predict which patients are at high risk of developing POCD. Research suggests silent strokes occurring during surgery and different sensitivities to anaesthetic medicines are associated with POCD.

The project consists of a feasibility study to investigate markers that might predict people over 65 years old getting POCD. The first biomarker is a non-invasive monitor of anaesthetics effects on brain function called electroencephalography (EEG): The investigators will identify which EEG patterns predict delirium within five days surgery. The second set of biomarkers are two blood tests of proteins that increase after strokes: these are neurofilament light chains and tau proteins. The investigators will establish if these can be used to predict having POCD up to one year after surgery and long term cognitive impairment up to 5 years after surgery.

Conditions

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Intraoperative electroencephalography recording

Intraoperative electroencephalography measurements, a non-invasive routine monitoring device used during anaesthesia to measure the brain's electrical activity

PROCEDURE

Neurofilament light chain measurement

Measurement of the level of neurofilament light chain in a blood sample

PROCEDURE

Tau protein measurement

Measurement of the level of tau protein in a blood sample

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Oxford

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Martyn Ezra · University of Oxford

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-01-05
Primary Completion
2026-01-31
Completion
2030-01-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05464355 on ClinicalTrials.gov