Interventions for POstoperative Delirium – Biomarker-PET (IPOD-PET)

This project focuses on the overlapping pathology of dementia and delirium. The disorders have serious consequences, both to the individual with increased morbidity, mortality, and impairments to quality of life, as well as to society, costing billions of dollars in healthcare expenses annually. A lack of adequate preventative or therapeutic treatments likely comes from an inadequate understanding of pathogenesis. The relationship between the disorders is not fully understood, though one predisposes the individual to the other, and those that incur delirium have altered levels of amyloid in their cerebrospinal fluid. The relationship between amyloid in the brain and delirium is not understood. This study will provide preliminary data on amyloid load in the brain, as determined by PET, and delirium.