Deleterious brain changes occur 10-20 years before dementia manifests, representing an ‘at risk’ period for intervention. Major surgery has already been shown to be associated with accelerated cognitive decline, however it is not yet clear whether biomarkers associated with acute postoperative delirium are, in turn, associated with cognitive decline. The present study will establish associations in dynamic plasma concentrations of neurofilament light (an axonal protein that is considered the leading biomarker of neuronal injury) at the time of surgery with change in cognition at 1-year. New scientific knowledge determining the association of acute brain injury biomarkers with 1-year cognition that will focus the development of interventions to protect brain health.
Dr Neil Pillinger, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Ms Kaitlin Kramer, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Professor Rob Sanders, University of Sydney
Dr Tom Payne, University of Sydney
Associate Prof Lis Evered, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Ben Moran, Gosford Hospital, NSW
The project was awarded A$70,000 funding through the ANZCA research grants program for 2026.
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